Week 28: Sirpa, Arto, Elina, Jani, Kristiina, Matti and Suvi
Saturday 5.7.2014
A new eager group gathered in Käringsund harbour early in the morning. The weather couldn’t be better. Mats, our skipper, had already collected water and some firewood on board the Sefyr. After loading our luggage, some building materials, foodstuff and various equipment we headed towards Märket. Mats had also brought two visitors to see the lighthouse.
We went ashore in the north harbour as the wind was calm and there was almost no swell. The leaving group had set the table for the newcomers and instructed us.
The normal security walk was made. The newbies – two in our group – got their first impressions of the island and the others had a useful repeat of what is important to remember.
As soon as the obligatory beginning tasks had been carried out and Elina had feeded us, Sirpa, our team leader, insisted on returning to her beloved work: scratching the paint in the staircase
Arto and Jani practiced the boat launching in case it would be needed for taking tourists ashore.
The saw chain was sharpened and the logs started to be cut into stumps in the official Märket length. We secured with a tarp that the sawdust also could be gathered and used on Märket, as toilet dehydrant.
Kristiina didn’t like at all the droppings of the birds on the Märket sign and made it clean and shiny again.
Sunday 6.7.2014
A bright Sunday morning welcomed the lighthouse keepers after a good night sleep. Would we get tourists today? At least the weather and the wind would be perfect for a visit.
Elina moved the kitchen outdoors. Who has a better view while preparing meals than the queen of the kitchen on Märket?
Arto and Jani finished the shoulder plate behind the sauna stowe and then moved on to build a bench for the dressing room.
Kristiina and Suvi almost finished the wood chopping project. We hope Mats will bring for them more wood to chop during the week.
Sirpa was not satisfied with the paint on the engine room treshold. First she removed some old paint and then painted it with a new one. And of course, no day on Märket without staircase paint scratching…
Arto made a cage for washing potatoes.
Proper instructions were given to use this innovation.
A gas alarm was installed in the kitchen.
Suddendly the young members of the crew seemed to be running away, Were they trying to catch the passing ship?
Perhaps the companion of the older members of the crew was too dull… Luckily, after seeing dozens of seals on nearby skerries they decided to return to Märket.
As the day turned into evening it was obvious that no visitors found their way to us even today. But… for tomorrow we already have a promise of a visiting boat with tourists.
Monday 7.7.2014
What is the most important thing on Märket? Nice weather? Beautiful scenery? Tasty food? Hard work? We think it´s a good group where everyone has her/his own role and enjoy the feeling of being useful.
Arto had the previous day planned the sauna door sides that had – again – swelled and the door didn’t open and close properly. Todays’ tasks were started with chopping the rest of the wood, installing the transparent cover on the wallpaper exhibition in the radio amateurs’ room and some window and door painting.
Before noon we finally got visitors! A couple from Nurmijärvi arrived with a sailboat and was guided through the islet by Sirpa and Jani. After a coffee break with the lighthouse group they headed eastwards round the northern coast of Åland.
As one of the tyres used as fenders in the north harbour didn’t have the Märket style hole in the bottom, Jani got wet when lifting the tyre. Of course, Arto immediately fixed the tyre to save the others from the same destiny.
In the afternoon Jani invited the other members of the crew to a knot school. We learned how to make a reef knot (merimiessolmu), bowline (paalusolmu) and clove hitch (siansorkka). Good skills for every one who stays in a maritime environment.
Due to succesful security measures, Märket has become a much safer place. Consequently, the text DANGER in front of the lighthouse could be removed.
Tuesday 8.7.2014
Today we had twelve visitors with Mats from the Åland mainland. They were guided and feeded in the most beautiful weather. The highlight of the day – that we didn’t find out until afterwards – was that two young people, Sanna and Martin, got engaged “right here and now”, as they wrote in the guest book. What a place for such an important thing in your life! Congratulations to you from all of us here on the island! And welcome to be wed on Märket!
Mats brought for us also some more wood to cut and chop.
Arto and Jani started installing the smoke tube for the new oven in the third floor room. There was also some painting in the day’s program. The old winch mast – where only an antenna was left – was taken off and the antenna was moved to a new place.
Jani took the rest of the crew for a walk to the southeasternmost end of the island. On the nearby reef there were some metal rests. Looked like a rusty barrel and something unidentified… We towed it back to the island for transport to the Åland mainland and circulation.
The wind has been very calm and there has been dry so the cliffs are getting more and more dirty of the birds’ droppings. But its OK because the next storm and rain – neither of which we miss – will clean the cliffs again.
Late in the evening there was still more than 20 degrees in the shadow. A good evening to bath in the marvellous sauna.
Wednesday 9.7.2014
Late yesterday evening the whole group admired the magnificent sunset of Märket. The sunset is different every day and shows an endless variety of altering shapes. Although the sky is completely bright it gives the impression of the sun setting behind thin clouds. Yesterday the most peculiar shape of the setting sun was much alike a champignon.
Today we had four visitors from Sweden. They came from Östhammar so the most northwestern section of Märket is a part of their home municipality. While on Märket they also visited the neighbouring municipality Norrtälje.
Mats also brought two electricians who installed new wireless interconnected fire alarms in all accommodation rooms.
Arto and Jani finished installing the antenna. Scaffoldings were needed as the new location of the antenna was on the roof ot the machine room. They also carried on with installing the smoke tube of the third floor room.
By noon it looked like we would have got many more visitors. But they were locals that came to have a picnic in the hot and almost calm weather, not so often experienced here.
Todays weather was the hottest so far. All of us having inside duties, including the Queen of the kitchen, preferred to work outside.
Thursday 10.7.2014
Today we woke up in a relatively windy morning. The last days’ hot weather was gone but we don’t complain: no rain to be expected. Instead, we expected a full boat of tourists with Mats. Last night a lonely paddler had landed to Märket and set his tent near the lighthouse.
The twelve guests came ashore through the front of Sefyr and were guided by Sirpa, Jani and Matti. In the afternoon, four more guests arrived with their own boat. Suvi had her busiest day so far in the Märket shop.
Arto installed wind hooks in the sauna doors and windows so both the sauna and the dressing room can be ventilated even by moderate winds. The installation work of the third floor room’s oven went on. Arto widened the hole for the smoke tube. Some measure problems arose: the delivered tube was too short and an adapter must be ordered. Meanwhile, of course, Sirpa scratched the old paint in the staircase, in spite of the noisy work just beside her. Maybe this task will be fulfilled next year…Jani cut more wood for the young ladies to chop, and no one needed to ask Suvi and Kristiina to use the axes again.
Due to the warm weather, we think, flies have increased in amount both indoors and outdoors. Last night one fly flied around in the womens’ sleeping room keeping them awake long periods. Our last night’s paddler guest shot this picture.
After a hard days work Elina rewarded us with pancakes.
Friday 11.7.2014
Now we have almost a week on Märket behind us. Everyone has had important tasks to do in order to keep this lighthouse a living place. We are glad that we can make it possible for people to visit the lighthouse, see this unique place and imagine how harsh it has been to live and work here.
Some of our tasks have progressed as planned, others have faced new challenges. The roof of the third floor corridor was covered today. The new oven could not be finished but the following week’s lighthouse keepers – at least those who wake up early – can compete on the best sunrise view.
Today, vegetation was removed from the basement of the lighthouse and most of the remaining wood was chopped and piled. There is now almost 3 m3 of newchopped wood drying on the lighthouse yard.
Our paddling guest Mr Schmidt left for Eckerö after a rest day on Märket as the wind settled and turned to a favourable direction. We thank you for your visit and wish you a good paddling back to Finnish mainland.
By noon we had one visiting boat with Päivi and Jani from Western Finland. They had had their boat repaired in Käringsund, where Mats had given a hint of Märket.
This week we have had lots of visitors through the buoy so the rubber boat has been busy. More fuel has to be ordered two times.
Late in the afternoon we got unexpected but highly respected visitors from Eckerö. Mr Torbjörn Schauman, the son of the Märket lighthouse keeper Tor Schauman, came on visit with his son Mats and grandson Conny plus their friends. In spite of his high age Tobbe climbed the steep stairs without difficulties and even entered the tower balcony. Also Mats has worked on Märket in the 1970s. Both men told us colourful stories about work and happenings in the decades when Märket was occupied.
This is our last night on Märket this time. We all have enjoyed our stay and will remember this week. Thanks to the FLS! We hope to be back here again soon!
Arto, Elina, Jani, Kristiina, Matti, Sirpa and Suvi