010810 I it really sunday…
After the ferryboat trip and a short night´s sleep in Saturday morning our group met in Mariehamn, Park Hotel at breakfast. Tuomas told us that we will arrive to Märket later than planned due to the windy weather. That was actually fine because two of our group members where late – their ferry didn´t stop in Långnäs at night at all – also because of the bad weather conditions in Långnäs. We waited for the wind to calm down till 4 pm and finally arrived to this amazing island at 6 pm.
Previous group had a long day waiting for their transport from the island and we hardly had time to say hello to them at the watch shift. Teija said bye bye to those who left and welcomed us to Märket and showed briefly the island and manners here. A quick supper for 10 people and after that an unforgettable momentum at the top of the lighthouse in sunset and curious seals wondering our moves.
Late breakfast today and a slow start to work – we will speed up the rhythm by tomorrow, I promise. By tomorrow we all – a specially the new ones on the island – know our job and task.
Märket crew Ari, Anne, Anu, Eira, Eliisa, Hedda, Jussi, Paavo, Teija and Tuomas
020810 The strongest wo/man on the island
Early morning swimming at sea and breakfast to all at 7:30 – yes, and we got the day started. Almost everybody slept well and were ”fit for fight” today. By the way – for notice, one seal came up to the island last night but we dummys scared it away.
The aggregat passed out after getting dirty fuel (tank mismarked). Paavo and Tuomas emptied the tank, cleaned the carburetor and put right fuel in it and it´s rocking again – huh!
Two guys from Ålands Vindenergi Andelslag came with some of the biggest parts of the windpower system: seven batteries (each 70 kg), fuel tank and diesel-generator. Tuomas dismantled the generator in parts (130 + 15 + 70 kg) in harbour so they could carry the pieces up to the lighthouse closer the windpower system.
Coffee break outside the lighthouse today in sunshine. Eliisa baked us pie and we ate with good apetite – it was delicious. Teija took hand of the dishes afterwards – see the lovely gloves!
One sailboat with a Finnish couple who live in Sweden visited us but only a few minutes from their boat. They where amused about the seals here and wished all the best for us with the good work we are doing. One catamaran and a sailing motor boat drove past.
Bror-Erik came with his boat Lotta and we got tons of cement for the breakwater. The rain totally wet us while we carried the cement quickly up and inside the lighthouse. Eliisa covered the firewood we have outside – that was not an under cover job but a cover up job.
Paavo and Anne put 3 nets into the sea and spitted afterwards for good luck in fishing. Tomorrow we´ll see if we had any luck…
The strongest team on the island: Anne, Anu, Ari, Eira, Eliisa, Hedda, Jussi, Paavo, Teija and Tuomas
030810 Generating, uplifting day
Yesterday we had one fish, a perch, in the nets 300-400 gr.
The morning was foggy and we checked the nets first at 9 am – no luck, just 2 plates (too small) and a big hole (a seal).
After the morning coffee brake we gathered to lift up the generator. We pulled the generator 50 cm at a time for a half an hour on boards. We had some troubles getting the generator up to the engine room so we had to dismantle the generator to even smaller parts before lifting it up to the second ”floor”.
We got some guests from Turku, a couple with a dog (Wenda) with a sailing boat Ana Partes. Tuomas gave them a sightseeingtour in the lighthouse. Then they tasted our lunchsoup and had a cup of coffee.
Soon after our first guest left we had new guests coming. Teija still wrote the cachier book after todays first visiters while our new guests were arriving. Two couples from Sweden arrived with their motorboat. Hedda guided our guests (Eva, Per, Gun and Lars) all over the island and in the lighthouse. Afterwards they had a pick-nick on the Sweden side of the island.
Paavo wanted to offer the whole group tonights dinner; A delicious West-coast sallad with some white wine. Eliisa and Ari baked ciabata with olives – fantastic!
Power team ten; Anne, Anu, Ari, Eira, Eliisa, Hedda, Jussi, Paavo, Teija and Tuomas
040810 A rainy, safety day on Märket
Morning broke rainy and very windy but the views where fantastic! There was not a calm corner or rock on the island in this wind – the waves made plaits.
Transports from the mainland postpones until tomorrow. We are waiting for 6 turists and 3 crew members. We will complet our stock at the same time with goods from Hugo Andersson´s grossery in Eckerö. Our group especially needs cheese to pizza.
Unfortunately we just noticed that the wood for the new floor was moist and therefore not usable. We have to find a way to dry it – tomorrow.
We are so sorry about the delay of today´s diary again, but these nightshifts are quite challenging for all of us. But – we always take care of safety at work, as you can see.
Tuomas, Teija, Paavo, Jussi, Hedda, Eliisa, Eira, Ari, Anu and Anne
050810 Hand made in Märket
060810 Another working day on Märket
Hedda, Teija and Anne slept outdoors – they wanted to stay as close to the breakwater (their work point) as possible. The night sky was amazing with thousends of stars and satellites passing the sky in just few seconds.
The day started sunny with a warm, 1,63 m/sek wind from South. After breakfast went Paavo and Risto to put down the fishing nets and we others started working. Anu and Eira continued with the magazine wall, Hedda and Anne started with the breakwater top after Ari making them todays first wheelbarrel of concrete. Teija did the morning dishes and Eliisa continued chopping wood. Paavo and Jussi started with the floorwarming system in the future livingroom. Peter and Marcus helped Tuomas with electric cabels in the lighthouse.
Eira have been calculating ships passing Märket and until 8 pm she has seen 25 ships on their way North and 17 South. We didn´t got any foodfish on the nets today.
Ari, Anne, Anu, Eliisa, Eira, Hedda, Jussi, Marcus, Paavo, Peter, Risto, Teija and Tuomas