D · Biking in the buff on a summery day before Easter [1 April 2021]

In 2021, the first summery day with maximum temperatures above 25°C took place on Wednesday before Easter. Only a few commercial aircraft, again polluting the atmosphere, disturbed the blue sky.

Summery day before Easter | 1

Wednesday before Easter was the first summery day with 25.7°C. A small hill is the overgrown remnant of a spoil heap, which was created before 1890 during the mining of strontianite mineral. Sand and grass paths were rare on the trip – most of the tracks are asphalted.

In 2020, natury reported: "[…] There were only a few other cyclists on the paths in the southern Münsterland region, with whom I could exchange friendly greeting. Cars were even rarer. I did not meet any pedestrians at all. […]" This year, it was completely different: It almost seemed, as if people had the cooler weather outlook for Easter days in mind and unceremoniously brought forward their Easter excursion to this Wednesday!

Temperature went up to impressive 25.7°C at 3:30 p.m. – then, you're happy, when a breeze caresses your skin: natury enjoyed the day biking in the buff.

He visited spoil heaps of a strontianite mining tunnel. This rare mineral SrCO₃ was used to produce sugar from sugar beet until 1883. Then, people learned to change the process of sugar production and use the more common and therefore cheaper coelestine (strontium sulphate = SrSO₄).

A 4,500-year-old stone cist grave was the next place of interest.

Stone cist grave from Neolithic period | 4

A stone cist grave from Neolithic period, approx. 4,500 years old, is one of the oldest testimonies of human settlement in Westphalia. Along the cycle path of Drei-Schlösser-Route [en: Three Castles Route], a garden with art objects catches the eye – there is also a craftwork sales booth in front of the house. At a educational nature trail on hedges, you can read on signs, which plants are particularly suitable for hedges.

Afterwards, natury cycled through southernmost parts of Münsterland towards Drei-Schlösser-Route [en: Three Castles Route]. As an over-70, he chose for rest a bench, on which he had the whole place for himself – that worked well despite the partly dense cycling excursion traffic. The season has started. Next, we have to face a cool Easter Sunday.