Minnesota nice

I know it seems I usually have my head in the clouds and Saturday was no exception. Why should a weekend be any different I argue?!


Dave and I left early Saturday morning spending almost all day on the motorcycle travelling south and east through farm land and small towns, then along the St. Croix river. The temperature was nearing 90 all day with a heavy cloud cover but no moisture. A thunderstorm was predicted for the afternoon.

It didn't come until later that evening when the tornado siren in Shoreview interrupted a re-run of 'Mouse Hunt.' The local station's news ribbon showed that our town was, in fact, having a tornado warning which meant we needed to seek cover. While I searched for my shoes and Bean the cat, ready to make the descent to the parking garage I saw a bunch of people, including Dave, just standing out in front of their places watching the sky. It did appear that a storm 'wall' was trying to form but within five minutes the warning ended and Bean was still asleep--in a closet somewhere.

I was able to take some photos as the storm moved north and east of us. Although some clouds appear especially dark I chose not to play with them, afraid I'd lose their imposing quality if I lightened them too much.

These were taken from our front yard as the sunshine tried to resume for the duration of the evening. Luckily no damage was reported in our area.

Earlier in the day we stopped in Northfield, Minnesota home of St. Olaf and Carlton Colleges, the Cannon River and the First National Bank where the James-Younger gang got their butts whupped when trying to rob the town. No tourist trip is complete without a souvenir, I always say: