A Sunday afternoon to enjoy

Walkers, runners, bikers, golfers take to the outdoors

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Sunny weather brought plenty of people outdoors Sunday afternoon.

Despite uncomfortable humidity and strong winds, lots of New Ulmites decided to get out of the house to jog, walk, golf, play ball, grill, mow or plant flowers.

Early in the day, many families turned out for brunch at local restaurants to celebrate Mother's Day.

Becca Janke, a hostess at Perkins, said Mother's Day usually creates a jump in Sunday business. Reservations swelled for groups of six to eight people until mid afternoon.

There were plenty of runners, walkers and bicyclists getting some exercise along State Street Sunday afternoon. Children played in Washington Park while their parents chatted quietly closeby.

A handful of guys managed to play a softball game on one of the diamonds at Harman Park, despite the fact that the wind kicked up a storm of red dust from the infield.

Some homeowners decided to start up the lawn mower and cut their grass, while others chose to water their gardens with the hose.

Up at Martin Luther College, two students played tennis while a girls softball team held practice on the adjacent field.

Flandrau State Park had some of its first visitors this past weekend. Park managers Gary Tiepel said a total of 160 people camped out at Flandrau . Park staff sold a total of 68 visitor passes, he said.

"That's about average for a weekend," he said. "This isn't a real busy weekend."

Tiepel said he expects the summer camping and recreation season to really start up next weekend. Many people have made reservations to stay at Flandrau for MLC's graduation.

Down Summit Avenue from the front gate to Flandrau, the greens and fairways of the New Ulm County Club golf course were busy with Sunday afternoon golfers.

Nick Besemer, who works in the pro shop at the NUCC, said the weather was certainly a factor in the recent increase in calls for reservations for tee time. Besemer said Mother's Day might have had played a role in the jump, since many people decided to take their mother out for a game of golf Sunday.

"This is the busiest it's been so far this year," he said.

A modest crowd turned up for a baseball game at Johnson Park Sunday afternoon. There were many more who simply chose to invite some friends for a barbeque and a chat over a circle of lawn chairs on the driveway, a picnic table in the back yard or a pickup truck in the garage.