030710 Rush on the Islet

Its been growded here on the islet today, a real rush of the summer season started; tourists and new crew members landed this morning. New crew Selja, Riitta, Leena, Marleena and Jukkis brought by Bengt Granbergs boat will stay and work here next week among those who came earlier; Jari, Jouni, Mikko, Heini, Eliisa and Titta. The team of eleven, some are here for the first time, some are veterans. All sharing the same great attitude and will to work as voluntier to save and maintain this precious lighthouse Märket.

And tourists as well, one local from Åland with serious interest towards lighthouses came with the crew and Bengt. Pekka, the head of the lighthouse society showed him around, and perhaps we’ll get him here to work with us next summer. Contacts with local people are important for us too.

Yvonne and Mats Sjöströms followed soon after the first ones bringing more tourists, five adults and six kids from Marieham, Vihti and Porvoo.

Weather was excellent for a trip out today, sunny and not too windy. Later on wind was getting heavier, we got a third boat closing by, but it didn’t want to land. People on the deck where only shooting fotos of the lighthouse. Later on we will have good wind, appromaxitely 13m per second from south, but it should calm down for next days. Hopefully it will, because we would love to get boats to visit us. Right now white foamheaded waves are washing furiously the southern side clifs.

All duties are going on as allways, our handy men fixed the wooden beds outside on the front yard. Now it is just a question of the very last assembling, all parts are ready and made. It has been a day for plenty of minor tasks, taking newcomers under comand and instructed. It is important to know all safety rules in a place like this.

Selja did her first guidning tour to warm up learend skills from last summer – as an infotour for those who havend been here before and who might later on take tourist around. History of this place is facinating and specially when you share it here in real scene.

Heini has been cleaning the rost from the iron made stormwindows on the northern wall. Continious knocking from the downstair sounds like a having stubborn woodpecker in the house. Jari was planning the safety rope system to the platform. Tiles are all transported to the storehouse building.

Tonight we will have a barbeque meny, but unfortunately we cant eat outside because of the heavy wind. Anyway, eating here is allways a pleasure -thaks to our cooks, physical work and the seaside climat.

040710 The Special Sound Scape of the Islet

Soundtrack of distant place 60degrees 18′ 03,3”N 19degrees 08′ 08,4”E

One element we can’t share unfortunately through webpages is the special sound scape of the islet: nature sound mixed to the sound of work. There is hardly no silent place here to find. As the most stormy place in Finland and as located so far out in the middle of the sea we hear constant roaring of the waves breaking to the shore on all sides of this small rocky piece of land.

Machines are used in busy hands: drilling, welding, grinding, cutting and hitting making a lot of fuss inside and outside. And generator of course, monotonic noice when producing electricity needed to keep all this going on. Wood chopping, stones clattering against each others when thrown in to the bucket. We collect and use them when renowating the breakwave. Jigsaw sang when Mikko was building new toilet construction. Cleaning the rost from iron bearer on the downstair cealing is despite dusty but heavy for hands. Dark color on Heini’s cheecks was not suntan today. Cleaning up the machineroom and putting things in order was Marleena’s duty, and not too clean either. Eliisa hurted herself when picking up stones, but didn’t cry a much. Jari and Jouni have been busy as foremen and workers as well.

Beside that we all do, air is cutted by voices of angry terns screaming sharply if closing their territory. Swallows are flying and wagtails jumping on the ground twittering and shirping around. It is an interesting thought how they end up to live in a far away place like this. If you are lucky, you can hear even bigger animals, our seals.

Wind keeps on blowing and sea doesn’t rest. Gusty wind will keep visitors away, and our miniature world remains closed. Wind howls on the tower of the lighthouse, humming machines here and there. Coffee call is a nice sound, as well burst of the laughter round the dinner table. This place gathers good people to work here together and the spirit is high.

Late in the evening sound of the work quiets down. The sea around keeps on breathing against stony sides of rocky island – tranquillising lullaby to the merited rest before a new dawn.

050710 Work and Visitors

Morning was clear, wind had dropped to 9 meters/sec from yesterday. In gust it was more and it looked like we would stay here just us today too. Humidity percentage of the air is really high, even 99%. Early in the morning before sunrise cliffs were dark and damp of dew like it had rained heavily in the night. During the day blue sky was covered by thin veil of clouds. That made the weather actually nice to work outside. Work continued on the wall. Leena did quite a puzzle to fill in the holes with smaller stones. Jukkis and Jouni where cleaning old mortar from joints away. Today seals showed up and delighted our workers on breakwave on northern side with their singing. Perhaps they are happy too because the sea is not that rough anymore.

Direction of the wind changed from south to south-west and at the calm moment between we got the most beatiful boat from Naantali in to our harbour; it is built according the traditional way – Storbåt as it is called, was typically used as a gargo boat in archipelago for any bigger goods like cows, sheeps, building material and for the trips to the market in big cities like Stockholm, Helsinki and Turku. We had four lovely people and a dog for awhile as our guests here.

Heini has still been in the room downstairs, doing her dusty and dirty work with cleaning the ceiling and stormwindows from thick rost. Watertank was moved away from the helicopter landing area. Pile of firewood is growing, thanks to Eliisa.

Earlier today when working on the northern side harbour, the arm of the sledge hammer got broken and the hammer part dropped – of course – to the sea. It sank in to the water in three meters depth, but it’s still visible laying in the bottom there. Riitta, experienced winter bather, did great tries when diving it up, but so far it still lies there.

Later on smooth clouds disappeared and evening was nice and warm. We know whole Finland has been sweating but here weather has been more like fresh. But this evening will continue as hot – campsauna is getting ready soon! And good to get Heini cleaned too..

060710 Sealsafari on the Silvery Surface of the Sea

Heatwave from the continent finally reached us. One of those freezing days last Christmas I was here for the last time, I ordered a day like this; Hot, just hot. Still water on the ponds and the sea around is mirroring the sky and its cloud sheeps. Low sound of the distant cargo boats passing by are echoing to our ears, as well as the choir of singing of the seals on the northern side small rocky islets where they gather together.

A perfect day to do the trial run for the new outdoor motor of our small dinky. We went out to see the seal community close by; what a sight to see them lying there side by side. Curious as they are, they came close to the boat, tens or hundreds of them. Heads popped from the water, bright eyes stared us awhile, then they dived and came to the surface again.

Sun was burning hot today, better take the shirt off, or rather use a long sleeves to protect yourself not to get burned. A must thing today was to take a swim in between your duties. New chimney was lifted up to the lighthouse tower and soon it will be on its proper place. That will make heating the owens possible on all wind and weather.

Work on the breakwave continues, as well timberman Mikko built new tables to the terrace. Heini did some painting today, for instance new handrails are shining white now.

In a day like this, it is easy to land to Märket. The first boat brought our foreman Ari with her wife here – this time on holiday. We are happy to have them here as our guests. Next visitors came from Kökar, bringing a couple who have lots of experience of sealife.

Later on the Targa boat and its skipper from Åland landed and we got a family from Eckerö and a visitor from Romania Transsilvania here. We had a nice tour with them and for those who had been here before some years ago we heard complements that this place has changed a lot due to our renovation work. Selja was a busy guide today.

Yesterday our internet connection disappeared, but luckily we have a nerd here. (And this special precious one have other skills too!) Jukkis fixed the bluetooth connection so we can stay online again. If you want to give comments don’t hesitate to send your regards: info @ majakkaseura.fi

Selja and the crew: Jari, Jouni, Mikko, Jukkis, Marleena, Titta, Heini, Eliisa, Riitta and Leena

070710 Traffic as in a Little Village

We haven’t been lonely here, as we hit the record of this summer what comes to number of guests: altogether we have had 26 visitors today. Already in the morning came a group from Åland celebrating the 70th birthday of a charming lady. Not long after that we had a visit from Uusikaupunki – a nice couple who were big friends of lighthouses and enjoyed Heini’s and Marleena’s guided tour and a cup a coffee.

A couple from Turku on a long sailing trip came late yesterday evening and decided to make their final stop here on Märket and stay overnight before crossing the border to Sweden. They were also fascinated by the seals on the nearby islet.

Our other foreman Ari and his wife Johanna continued their trip towards north.

Among us today worked here also three men from the frontier guard, assembling a new antenna on the roof of the storehouse building. This is not completely unusual as here is some of their equipment, as well as metering devices from the Finnish metheorological institute. The visit made our female crew smile even sweeter than usually, if possible.

In the hot afternoon hours an enthusiastic and nice group of eight came to the southern side buoy, and Selja and Jukkis got to use their Swedish skills already second time today. It was pleasing to introduce the interesting history of this culturalhistorically remarkable place to them.

For the night we are waiting for a family of five. Despite all this traffic, also work has been done: a new storage for frontier guard’s batteries was built, one to mention.

In a day like this, the kitchen crew has their hands full of work. In between the normal foodcare, coffee pots have to be hot too. Homemade bread Eliisa baked seven hours yesterday was especially noticed by everyone.

All in all, it feels good to know that people are interested in and want to share the work we are doing for Märket.

080710 On a Märket Mood

When a shitf is closing to it’s end there is a sudle feeling of melancholy in the air – as well you enjoy the easiness of teamwork. Feels like everyone have found their places and way of being here. Members of the Lighthouse Society who voluntary come to work here are basically easygoing and flexable people. Hard working too! To spend a week on a isolated place like this without too much privacy requires a certain kind of character.

At some point everything melts to one whole – we have this common goal to save and renovate the lighthouse. Different people with different skills are giving their best. There are no major or minor tasks, every single deed for this unity is needed and valuable. As a return present you get the feeling belonging, being important, as well many preserved memories of frienship, laughter and sharing. Beautifull sunsets seen from the lighthouse tower, working the day having just sea around. Here we have what we need, nothing extra. It is easy to be happy on Märket’s ground.

It has been a windy day again, seven meters from southern side. No guests during the day. Tonight we are going to get three tourists and new crew members; Aino, Tuomas, Lotta and Klaus – and Heini and Mikko will retourn to the continent.

Once more it’s a pleasure to tell about works done today: Jari, Mikko and Eliisa have been a real command unit at the brakewave today, since early morning. After their attack it is almost done. Storehouse wall have been occupied too – Jouni and Jukkis have been standing on scaffouldings breaking the old plaster away. Riitta has been using the axe and pile of firewood is getting higher. Marleena is ready with cleaning up the machineroom.

Big thanks to the kitchen crew too, today Leena and Titta. Despite the physical work no one had lost their weight during the stay.

090710 Sunny Day

The day started with a briefing tour to those new ones who came here yesterday and will stay when we old ones are leaving tomorrow. Sun is shining and all found their ways of being busy as normal: Riitta carrying water is the first thing to see in the morning, and it continues till the evening fore sure – if it’s not one thing it’s another; firewood, tools, dishes, coffee for our guests. Eliisa is a great smiling all-around-woman too and she is even thinking to prolong her stay one more time. It’s not easy to leave Märket.

Jouni and Klaus started to build brand new benches to our terrace. Marleena and Jukkis have been sanding and steelbrushing the handrails of the concrete bridge which connects machine room and upper storeroom to the lighthouse. Old rust is grinded away, and new layer of white paint is coming in the evening.

Tuomas is back and continues his installing and programming duties of the windpower accessories in the machine room. When the work is done – end of this month – wind will be our main energy source beside the sun panels.

Leena has been our shopkeeper this week, and also part of our great and praised kitchen group. Together with Titta and Riitta they have been spoiling us; their menys and meals have been something to remember and tell at home. Markable is that excellent level is reached under the limited food supplies and cooking conditions.

Our fair foreman Jouni ordered all to take swimming pause in bewtween the workday – it’s been sunny and warm here today as whole week.

After noon the gang of three motorboats – from Turku, Naantali and Helsinki – approached side by side from southern side. It took a while to get them all moor to our harbours possible to land today. Almost a traffic jam, but so nice to get guests again and give a guided tour by Selja around.

Tonight is the time for farewell party with campsauna for most of us. Warm thanks to all crew members, for all readers, and Märket – and welcome new fresh shift of lighthouse keepers tomorrow!

Selja & Jari, Jouni, Eliisa, Marleena, Jukkis, Titta, Leena, Riitta, Aino, Klaus, Tuomas