Sun dogs photographed this morning through the dirty passenger side van window east of Lamberton along U.S. Highway 14 in southwestern Minnesota.
YOU KNOW IT’S COLD when sun dogs emerge, the wind whips flags straight out and a bank sign temperature reads five degrees Fahrenheit.
Strong winds drift snow across U.S. Highway 14 east of Lamberton this morning.
That would be southwestern Minnesota this morning as my family left my brother and sister-in-law’s rural Lamberton home after a family Christmas and began the 2 1/2-hour drive east back to Faribault.
After an hour on the road, we entered New Ulm where I photographed this scene at the intersection of Brown County Road 29 and U.S. Highway 14:
The biker, to the left, caught my eye in New Ulm because of his attire.
Tell me, how could this bicyclist tolerate biking in shorts or without a cap on his head? I sincerely hope he didn’t have far to pedal on this official second day of winter. Exposed skin can freeze quickly in such brutal temps.
He was, at least, wearing gloves.
© Copyright 2013 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Beautiful photos! And it sure looks cold there,,all we are getting here in central Illinois,is rain but kinda cold,around 35% right now
Hope you have a Merry Christmas there in Minnesota!
Thank you and a very Merry Christmas to you in central Illinois. And, yes, it’s cold here.
You are very welcome!
Yes……gloves. Our grandson-in-law was out and about in shirt sleeves all day today (a “20-something” age!). If you are able to watch the high-school aged kids go to school…….shorts, hoodies, tennis shoes…….but perish the thought that a jacket of any substance be on their bodies!!!!! LOL! The wind/snow swept highway photo is making me cringe!!!!!!!! The days are getting longer!!!! YAY!!!!!
Oh, yes, school kids walk past my house all the time and I see their unfitting attire.
This cyclist in New Ulm, though, is no kid. He should know better.
Sigh……some just never learn!!!!!!
It just scared me to see those exposed legs in that cold.
I’m sure after a while nothing can be felt!!!!! LOL!
JOhn’s son is like that, he wears shorts all year round, bikes and runs in all weathers. terrifies me! c
I totally understand. I also saw some parents walking and pulling their son in a wagon today in Faribault. The little guy was not wearing a cap or mittens and the temp here was 19 degrees Fahrenheit. I don’t know if he pulled them off and they were oblivious or he wasn’t wearing either ever.
Mercy, that is crazy.. c
I thought so, too, and considered stopping.
Pretty winter photo’s Audrey,as for the male who is scantly dressed…. Not sure what to think about that, Although i have yet to wear a coat myself 🙂 Hope you had a wonderful time with your family in Lamberton.
I had a great time with family, Jackie, and was especially grateful that my three were here Friday evening.
You have yet to wear a winter coat? How warm is the weather in Rochester?
I’m just so hot-blooded, and I dont like the confinement of a coat in the car. I do bring my coat along in the car, just in case I get stranded, but I rarely wear one if I’m just getting in and out of the car 🙂
Oh, good, at least you have your coat with you. Your mama taught you well.
I wish I could do what the cyclist does. My bikerciser is outside and I don’t get as much exercise since it is cold.
Biking is certainly great exercise. But biking in shorts in the winter when the temp hovers around 10 degrees doesn’t seem wise to me.
That’s amazing. I don’t know how he’s able to keep his blood circulating. Some people just don’t seem to feel the cold. We belong to a swim club and I avoid it nine months of the year because I find the water too cold. But no, other swim all year round without a wetsuit and it doesn’t bother them a bit. It’s like they don’t even notice the cold. I don’t understand xx
I know. I don’t understand either. Cold does not seem to bother some people.
[…] Bicyclists who ride in shorts in winter (Minnesota Prairie […]
What he is riding is, a “B”icicle. I can not understand guys who wear shorts after Labor Day. Never would have happened when I was young. Guys then,seldom wore shorts in the Summer! Not a Masculine thing back then. Now I see old codgers like me wearing shorts the year around. Oh how things have changed. Audrey, I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas. Stay warm, and continue your talent of entertaining your readers. God Bless all at this very special time of year.
So clever… a “B”icicle.
You are so kind regarding your comment about my blog. Wishing you and your family a most blessed Christmas, too, Allan!
Loving your captures:) Saturday here kicked off with multiple car pile ups, freezing fog and black ice. Saw bicyclers and motorcyclers out and about a few hours later – WTH?!? Plus my husband wore shorts all day long – ha! It was a bit of a crazy, weird weekend! Happy Monday:)
That weather sounds awful. I know a lot of areas were hit by bad weather. My daughter delayed her trip from northeastern Wisconsin to Minnesota by a few hours on Friday. She missed the storm and was able to return safely yesterday.
Glad to hear she made it home safely. Part of living in the mountains I guess – need to learn how to put skis or skates on my truck – ha! I worried the whole time my parents drove out here and then back home again – nerve wracking at times with storms and being in between storms.
He had to show off the tats.
One of our delivery drivers is running with the short sleeves today.
Ah, so you noticed his tattooed legs.
Would that delivery driver be Trace? The man must have ice in his veins.
I know a few people who cycle all winter, but I’m pretty positive they would not be caught outside without the proper gear! There is a way to dress for winter cycling (though about 35 degrees is my lower limit–I’m not too hard-core!). I also hope this guy had to go just a couple of blocks.
That’s what I was hoping, too, that he had to run out to the grocery store in this area and was not far from home. But still, even a short time outdoors in shorts yesterday would not rate as a good idea, in my opinion.
Great sun dog photo!
Yeah, I felt pretty blinded after that direct shot.
I can imagine!