250909 New Stuff, New Märket

 

New stuff – Heli and Antero – arrived to Märket with radioamateurs group of four, Pertti, Pekka, Ilmo and Lasse.

Our trip here was a bit bumpy and wet, but all the way we got to the island safely, thanks to our captain, Mats. Radioamateurs started to mount their equipments and antennas, and the new lighthousekeepers started to make the place a home.

Heli was exited of the beautiness of the island and the sea, and Antero couldn´t believe his eyes while looking at the lighthouse´s new look. Compared to early june the work that has been done here is incredible. The lighthouse looks totally new and different with it´s new painting. Here can also be found numerous of improvements, a new terracce and new beds, for example. This looks like a totally new place, and gives a faith that Märket will rise again!

Now it´s time to chat a little around the kitchen table, and soon it will be a bed time, thanks to quite short last night sleep.

 

260909 Sun and Radioamateurs

 

Yesterday was an early good night call because of the early wake in the morning at the Marienhamn ferry. The night was a bit windy but everybody slept well. Though radioamateurs stayed up with their radio’s a little later.

After the breakfast we started to do some inventory of the construction equipments. Quite soon we decided that the wheather was far too good to spend the day inside the building, and we gave us a permission to enjoyn the day outside. It has been just like in the summer, sun shone all day and no wind at all. Heli did some sunbathing and reading on the clifs, and Antero tried to fish a while, but had no luck. The radioamateurs started their 24-hour competition, Scandinavian activity contest. Good luck for them!

Before we noticed, it was a dinner-time. Tonight we did some barbeque-food, and to be honest, we have to practise a little more for timing with our gas-grill… Alltheway, the food was good. Like last evening, we are now sitting and chatting with Lasse in the warm kitchen, and soon it is a bedtime again. Good night from the island.

 

270909 Outside Work

 

Today it has been a windy and sunny day. The wind has been blowing approximately 13 m/s from SW raising beautiful whiteheaded wawes. We skipped the inventory again and did some outside work, by carrying the equipments from yard to shelter.

We also did some planning how to get all the stuff inside, because nothing that has been left outside in autumn, is left in spring. The sea takes what it want’s… And everyday there is allways time to admire the old lady’s new red-and-white-striped coat! The radioamateurs intended to leave on tuesday, but because of the unforeseen sea they have to spread their time-window to leave from monday to wednesday. Bedtime in Märket!

 

280909 Rainclouds

 

The dawn was again sunny with light south-west wind. The day has been beautiful until six PM, when rainclouds and wind reached Märket.

The evening has been a little rainy and windy. The radioamateurs have left the building. They decided that today is good day for leaving, and unmounted their radiostation and left with SAR crew. They almost reached the wharf in Eckerö before the rain, but they got a little wet. With a help of extra pair of hands, we carried the heviest items, a boat and a generator, to the shelter. For a return service we helped radioamateurs to load their boat.

An extra hard wind warning is given for the night, we’ll see does the sea attack against our little lighthouse island with all it’s fury!

 

290909 The Closed Harbours

 

Today Märket has been closed for the visitors because all our harbours are closed. Well, we havent had any visitors earlier either, so we havent had to turn anybody back to sea today.

The wind has been hard, and we have again admired bigger and bigger waves. Antero took long shots with videocamera, and now wonders who else but the photographer wants to see one hour movie, which includes only waves and cliffs. Well, perhaps some editing should be done…

Among our daily routines, which include heating water and the house, making food, eating and doing dishes, we have emptied the yard. The forecast tells that even harder winds are coming, and it’s better that there is nothing loose outside. Over and out for now.

 

300909 Sea Takes It’s Own

 

The waves started to grow bigger at night, and we had again a great spectacle. We stood on the cliffs and took dozens of photographs of the wildest sea this far.

The sea has showed us who is the ruler here – even though there haven’t been doubts about that – and has taken two third of the island, and left us a very little area to walk.

Towards the evening the wind has calmed down, and according the wheather forecast we are able to leave Märket at the weekend. The only thing now, is that Pekka, the chairman of the Lighthouse Society, is still looking for us a boatman to drive us to Eckerö…

Thanks to previous lighthouse keepers, we ate delicious peasoup, which we had to melt first. With a sharp knife and patience we succeeded well.

One of our main duties, making the inventory is finished, and tomorrow we are going to clean the yard for good. That is, if we are strong enough to carry the rest of the boats inside.