Monday 21.5.2007 – The first change of shifts
The first part of this entry is written by the first lighthouse keepers, the latter part by the new shift.
Märket is now left behind. I am writing this on a bus and I am on my way back to Kullaa near Pori. I’m feeling a little bit blue (and very dirty; sauna is waiting for me at home).
But back to Märket! Morning was sunny and calm, wind maybe 4 m/s. Only few seals were seen. For the first time we had to put our alarm clock on because we had visitors coming in the morning.
At 9 AM the boat came bringing next lighthouse keepers, researchers of the museum of Åland, reporter from Radio Åland and reporter from Nya Åland newspaper. Then of course the captain of the boat and one local member of the Lighthouse Society from Finström.
After they arrived the whole day went REALLY fast. We were just going up and down, taking photos of EVERYTHING, walking on a rock for the last time, loading phones and computers, packing our things… And of course we were showing the place around and giving advice to next lighthouse keepers.
And suddenly it was time to leave. For now on it’s Didi and Tossan who are reporting from Märket. At the moment I am ending my lighthouse reports here, but You never know what the future brings. One thing is for sure: we will never forget Märket island and that unique week we spent there. For the future lighthouse keepers we hope them to have as magical time on Märket as we did.
Let’s save Märket! Greetings, Satu & Outi.
P.S. And what an unforgettable birthday Outi had today!
Back at Märket again, this time to stay for a week. Last Sunday I visited the island just to see what I was getting myself into. Now, after the girls have been here for 8 days cleaning and organising things, it feels really good to stay.
After the boat had left, we, my Puffindog Tossan and I, took a slow walk around the island to claim it as our territory. The wind is increasing a bit, and I’m tired from all the carrying of stuff. Tossan fell asleep standing up earlier, and when it started to rain at 16.30 I decided to start the heater in the small room and take a rest too.
Later on we took a walk in the rain and I sat for a while watching the birds and a few seals, but when the rain increased I desided to call it a day. Tomorrow is a new day on my ”desert island”. Thank you Satu and Outi for making the place welcoming for us all. There is still a lot of work to do, but you had the first and worst watch.
Tuesday 22.5.2007 – The thing from the sky
Our first night went well. I fell asleep to the sound of the rain on the roof. Waking up I didn’t first want to get out of my warm sleeping bag, but then I heard the sound of a helicopter circulating around the lighthouse.
When I came out of my small room I met a man on his way up asking for Kikka. After hearing that she had been here last week he left in a hurry. I made him sign the guest book, though. He was one of the pilots in the resque helicopter from Mariehamn on a rutine flight of practice. Nice.
The fog was dence at first, but by the midday it was gone. Wind was app. N-NE 3-6 and decreasing. The sky is dark with rain clouds. I haven´t seen the sun all day. After breakfast I chopped some wood to heat water and clean the disches left by the crowd yeasterday.
One of the problems I solved right away was how to get things up and down the ladder. I simply tighed a rope there so now I fasten things in the rope an pull it up and lower things down when I’m up. This saves your legs a lot.
I emptied a cubbard full of bottles and started lowering the plastic bags one by one each time I for some reason go up or down.
Tomorrow I hope for a better weather. I really need the sun to charge this telephone. If not, then communicating and sending messages to our home page is impossible.
I really like my little world here. I just wish I had some way of identifying all the birds here, not to mention their names in English. Till tomorrow!
Wednesday 23.5.2007 – The sun returned, and the power!
The sun woke me up at 05.30 this morning. I hurried up to start the battery charging. Finally some sun! After that I went back to sleep. Poor Pekka (the man who monitors us from the shore…) worried before he got my first message. For safety reasons I have to keep in touch twice a day.
Last night, taking our final walk around the island, we found a seal on the north side of the northern wall. I went close enough to get a good picture, then we left it alone. It looked like a half grown puppie changing its fur. Tossan was behaving really good, staying with me.
Today the wind is about NW 6-8 and steady. I found myself doing this and that all day. When talking to Nya Åland (local newspaper) I heard about two ships in a near collission last night close to Märket. I slept like a baby all night knowing nothing.
One thing that amazes me is how much life and noice here is. There is more than 10 different kind of birds minding their own business, and the seals ”cry” on the rock north of Märket. I hear ship engines all day and night, and today also a helicopter flying close on its way West.
The wind and the waves makes almost music to my ears. Waves braking on a shore is a sound I love. It reminds me of my childhood summers.
I ended up emptying one room on the 3rd floor next to the kitchen. A little warm water and soap and you could actually stay there. This place is so filthy and full of rubbish. But little by little we will change that.
Being alone here I’m not supposed to do much due to security reasons. I feel good to be able to do something for this place and I try to be careful. This is it from the sunny Märket!
Thursday 24.5.2007 – The flying carpets
Today it has been a sunny but windy day with good visibility. Cleaning the floor and moving the ”kitchen” has been my main occupation today. I imagine that I was the first one to do that in 30 years. Today with the steady wind, rather cold too, it gets colder inside than outside. We try to have very good ventilation to dry out the place. Now I have started the heater in the new kitchen. It’s time for supper and free time.
All the old dump matrasses went out today and a few carpets too. They stink, yes there is no other way of saying it.
I’m really pleased with my day, and there is still some warm water so I will wash properly tonight. With no running water, hot or cold, washing oneself is not that easy.
No visitors today, only the divingboat staying for some hours on the south side pretty close. Two seals on the north end and some more further out on a rock. Too far away to count though.
Tomorrow is my last day on the island. The next lighthouse keepers are arriving on Saturday morning, if the weather allows. Those of you who want to visit Märket just for a couple of hours can come too. Look at our homepage for details.
If you are an expert on birds, please come and tell me what their names are.
Thats all from a windy Märket.
Friday 25.5.2007 – The last day out on Märket
Today is my last day on Märket. It has been a day with all kinds of weather. For a while the wind smelled like summer, warm and lovely. Now dark clouds hang over us and the wind is cold again. The sun has played hide and seek with the clouds all day so no battery charging today.
I have done this and that, trying to make the place nice for the new lighthouse keepers and for our visitors. Collecting empty watercontainers to take back with me and trying to remember everything.
Taking the usual walk around the island I have a strange feeling inside. I realise I don’t want to leave this remote place yet. I haven’t started feeling lonely yet. And I would like to be here when the storm comes.
The power of the Mother Nature can be seen on the north side of the buildings where big rocks from the northern wall have come loose and have been moved all the way over to the other side of the island.
I promise myself that I will be back as soon as possible.