Saturday 8.6.2013 – Friday 14.6.2013 Ari, Jussi, Outi, Päivi, Selja, Titta and Harri

 

Saturday 8.6.13

 

Saturday is the day to set old crew free and get fresh flesh on the ground. Next week tiny rocky islet is manned by Ari, Jussi, Outi, Päivi, Selja and Titta as a new crew. Our bonus person Harri will stay another week with us.

The boat was fully loaded; not only drinking water and food for a week, but also timber, bricks and building material to make basement for the sauna. Actually our working shift started already in Eckerö Käringsund Gästhamn harbour in the morning by carrying all that stuff on the deck of ship Sephyr. Accustomed captain Mats brought us on shore as many times before.

Our first task was to empty the ship, then bring all material from the cliff to the lighthouse. Wheelbarrow was handy with transporting heavy bricks.

Then chicks had a break on the waterline enjoying the sunny day and great feeling of being here again. Big water surrounded us and waves were breathing tranquillity against the gray rock. Just listening the seabirds, wind and letting all muscles to relax.

After a while nature sounds get less harmonous tone; the intruder appeared on the horizon. White-tailed eagle threatened nesting tearns. The unwanted guest was soon driven away.

Nature show is basically enough to follow here; bird life, sea around us reflecting all changes of light – but today we made an exception: We wanted to honour the royal wedding on our neighbourgh country, actually we share this islet with these two state.

We shed a tear with emotion when beautifull princess got her gourgeous prince Later on the sky did the same, couple of rain drops wet the steaming rock in the evening. Titta was the sauna heater, so we will stay warm anyway.

 

Sunday 9.6.2013

 

Sunday and celebration of Ålands autonomy day.

On sunday we had a late breakfast under grayish and wet sky. Bricks for the sauna basement are waiting to get dryer to start the mansonry work later on. Looks like sky is getting clearer from western side, but still some rain could be seen over the Åland mainland.

During our delicious lunch Tom Yam chicken soup, table was decorated with a small blue yellow and red crossed flag; according the calendar today is a Ålands självstyrelse dag – a celebration for the autonomy of Åland.

A bird observation of the day was black guillemot, nice looking black and white couple with red feets sitting on the rocks.

Some minor works have been done today, like Selja was scratching the paint away from the old lighthouse door. Daily routing tasks keeps us busy as well, but today there was time to take a nap too. Quiet and easy going sunday, only one sailing boat passed by, but didn’t land.

Once you do something well here it easily comes one of your responsibilities. Titta took care of sauna heating again. In the kitchen herbs and garlic scented during the preparation of lamb. Ari is our executive chief as to preparing meat dishes.

 

Monday 10.6.2013

 

On the third day of our week the outside world disappears even farther away than it really is. Cargo ships passes us by on ship route to Gulf of Bothnia. Peace is unbroken, the boat season has not started yet. Some fishing boats can be seen to the west of us far on the Swedish territorial waters.

The weather is half cloudy, not too much wind. But even a light wind feels cold when it blows from the sea of the early summer. Most of the day we work outside.

On wind-shelterded corners the air is dense with small flying insects. Swallows are constantly flying round the lighthouse catching them. Actually you’d better keep your mouth shut in order not to share meal with them.

Building of sauna basements got today a good start. Safety first, it’s a long way from here to get help if something happens. That is one of the reasons why we use helmets and safety harness all the time.

In order to ensure the evening bath Jussi fixed the pipe of the sauna stove. Less smoke and more heat, we will still use the camp sauna some days.

Tearns have conquered the half of the island, and are protecting their nests furiously. You have to watch our steps and our head as well, they do have a sharp beak. Helmet is usefull here too when walking on certaint areas in the islet.

 

Tuesday 11.6.2013

 

Morning sky was clear and water wild; wind rose in the night and waves grew wide. Gusty northwest wind blew ten to twelve meter per second raising white foam at the top of the swells. This island’s specialities include waking up to the roar of the sea from all sides; this morning we where able to experience it perfectly. Staring at the waves has very hypnotic and calming effect. Especially in the attic room wide window ledge is a perfect place to observe waves.

Due to the heavy wind, our working day with sauna basements started later than normally. Soon after the breakfast sky was covered with gray clouds. We spend some cozy time reading and socializing, as well with doing some office work – checking building drawings and instructions.

Later on the weather changed and we took our position at the building construction.

Terns chicks are hatched out, and whole community effectively protects the newcomers. The island is divided not only with Sweden and Finland, but to the terns State as well now. I can tell, their hit hurts.

Sea began to settle down, and sun delighted us in the afternoon again. Surprise, we got a guests coming from the sea! A sailing boat anchored on southern side of islet. We got here a charming family from Pori with two youngsters. From tomorrow, we should have a buoy in wich to attach more easily in to.

 

Wednesday 12.6.2013

 

Half cloudy, plus ten degrees, wind one meter per second from northweast in the morning. Good breakfast at eight sharp. We were waiting Mats to bring some building material to northern harbour. Wheelbarrels and crew where ready to carry gargo to its destination. 1225 kg concrete plus other stuff moved from deck to the lighthouse yard.

Divers should come too, to fix the buoy, but that will happen some other time. Instead we will get guys from Meterological Institute to do maintenance work of their weather measurement equipments. They came by air in Super Puma helicopter. It was an impressive spectacle to see it land on our tiny islet!

Air traffic was busy today, after three hours copter came back to pick up met guys. Weather reports from Märket will now be reliable and accurate also further on.

Sky brightened towards the afternoon. Works went on with sauna basements – cast moldings are ready. Jussi, Ari ,Outi and Päivi have really been working hard today.

Before the evening a sailing boat approached from west. It anchored to the southern side of the islet and we got nice brothers for a visit – Selja took them for a guided tour. Another of them had been here 2006 just before The lighthouse society started big renovation work and save Märket projekt. He was impressed and glad to see the change, that was a good feedback to society and all volunteers who have put lot of effort on this.

 

Thursday 13.6.2013

 

Morning dawned sunny and bright.Construction site was occupied already early and sauna basement work went on like singing in sunshine.

Thick sea fog crept up and took over the island. Islet’s boundaries softened and haze swallowed outlines.Behind the fog curtain deep waters roared, clouds hung low, whole world was milky white – then wet. No use to hang outside any more.

Gray is the color of this thursday, but Titta with the carrots was the real color spot of the day. It has been a pleasure to gather together round the table to enjoy the delicious meals Titta and Ari have magically offered us here in the middle of the sea.

Its nice to escape inside on a day like this and enjoy the protection provided of old solid walls of the lighthouse. To read a bit, make a food inventory, to admire surf waves rolling from the south, and write a diary.

 

Friday 14.6.2013

 

Friday and last day of our stay. We were waiting guests from Åland and main Finland in the morning; among them important people from the Light House Society and others who are co-operating with us; Hugos Landbutik – from where by our food supplies, people from insurance company, radio journalist and Mats – of course.

Teija from Lighthouse Society came too and stays with us till tomorrow.

Rest of the day was working with sauna basement, and all normal duties we have been busy with whole week.

Masonry

Our crew of this week – Selja, Ari, Jussi, Harri, Outi, Päivi and Titta – thanks Lighthouse Märket for a splendid week here and wishes you all the best and light nights towards the midsummer!