Saturday 14.7.2007 – New crew again

First day at Märket for another new crew! We have had the perfect weather for the whole day despite the early morning fog on the way here! The islet was busy with life when we arrived: the first guests had arrived at 7.30 am. Outi, one of this year’s very first Märket lighthouse keepers, arrived along with a friend to see how Märket has changed during these last two months.

A coffee break between guiding the turists on the busiest day of the summer – so far.

Just when we arrived, the aerial photographer Hannu Vallas overflew several times with his plane to document the newly printed Finnish-Swedish borderline. Both the old and the new crew waived to him whilst getting a last minute briefing.

One of the guestboats brought two German journalists – Hauke and Hanne from GeoSaison to visit the islet.

Old sailing friends visited Märket. On right the famous Finnish writer on ecology and technology, Mr. Eero Paloheimo

Märket also had an unexpected visit by a former lighthouse keeper Mr. Roland Carlberg, who arrived to make some renovation in his old workshop.

Roland Carlberg (left) with his helping hand repairing the door and windows of the hut that he built in the late 1940´s when serving as a lighthouse keeper on Märket.

Ingela and Arne – our carpentry students – started to work with the lighthouse window frames and found out that some of them were in a fairly bad condition. Ingela and Arne also went swimming and claimed that water was warm!

The first Märket day gave us a good insight to the days to come: lots of tourists as well as lots of rowing to do. Luckily our German photographer Hauke did almost all of the rowing, saving our strenghts for the next days. Hauke also gave some professional guidance on photography. Hanne was busy experiencing Märket life and exploring the seal islet.

Our first day passed so quickly that we didn’t even notice how hungry we were. And we had a lovely supper with new potatoes and herring.

The old shift leaving Märket (from left): Merja, Iiris, Antti, Marika and Kristina.

Please all, come to Märket, you are welcome!

The new crew: Sari, Asta, Ingela, Arne, Satu.

 

Sunday 15.7.2007 – Wind and windows

Our first night was adventurous: some of us were sleeping under the open sky and in a tent and woke up to heavy rain to continue sleeping in better shelters in the increasing wind and occational rain.

This morning gave us a chance to explore the attic to find some old magasines, books and pieces of old furniture as well as some good pots and pans, which later on were planted with flower seeds.

Due to the strong wind we didn’t expect many visitors today. However we knew that there was one boat coming to pick up our weekend guests and to bring some tourists to Märket. In the group was Ada Fagerström, wife to a former lighthouse keeper Thor Fagerström, and their daughter Agneta Flöjt.

They even brought some pictures of the time they had been to Märket before. Ada Fagerström told us that once she had to stay for six weeks because there was no chance to leave Märket.

Window repairs were continued: the paint holds really tight.

Outi waived us sadly goodbye hoping that she would be back. Märket made a strong impression also on our German journalist friends. They even might return. We hope that they spread Märket Message all over the world!

Waiting for supper: Arne, Ingela, Asta, Sari & Satu

 

Monday 16.7.2007 – Robinson Crusoe waiting in vain (nearly)

The lighthouse woke up to a sunny and warm morning. Even last night’s strong wind calmed during the day.

Asta doing the dishes on her third day on Märket.

Time passed quickly with daily activities. ”The White House” was converted into a luxory shower room!

The next try for shower. Will they succeed better than JP some weeks ago?

During the afternoon we saw quite a few sailing boats in the distance and tried to attract their attention. In the end we climbed to the islet’s rowing boat and tried to reach the passing boats!

Brave women went hunting for sailing boats!

Having lost all hope of visitors, we decided to have a barbeque at the rocks. Suddenly we saw two people cayaking towards Märket!

Greetings from Stockholm! The first paddlers in the new history of Märket!

This young couple from Stockholm had been cayaking for over four hours and were planning to overnight at Märket.

The old harbour is perfect for canoes!

They enjoyed an evening guide tour, are setting up they tent now and are hoping to see seals near by.

A room with a view.

Good night from Märket.

 

Tuesday 17.7.2007 – Maritime town Rauma finally did it!

Tuesday brought sunny and warm weather in the morning. The sea was calm when the Swedish couple that slept on Märket started paddling towards Åland.

Arne and Ingela, the handcraft students, have been doing great job on Märket!

Ingela and Arne started to paint window frames while the rest of us were busy with the ”dirty” jobs.

Ingela doing the first layer of painting for the windows.

We emptied some of the bio toilet. The smell stayed with us for a while… After emptying and turning also the bio compost, we decided that it was time for a swim.

We have noticed that it is necessary to sort carefully all the waste produced in a place such as Märket. By sorting it is easy to minimize the amount of the unrecyclable waste. By doing this we have been able to reduce the unrecyclable waste amount effectively.

The brave crew from Rauma, happy to be on Märket!

The wind was increasing but still we had a phone call from sailors approaching Märket. At lunchtime they anchored and arrived at the reef. This group from Rauma had visited quite a few lighthouses but were especially impressed by our lighthouse! The children were delighted to see seals and their parents were delighted by the renovation and the staff.

Rauma has also a lighthouse and a beautiful beacon. So no wonder this crew wanted to see Märket.

(From the webmaster: We have really been waiting for the first boat to arrive from the nearby maritime town of Rauma. You made it! Congratulations!)

Beautiful low front on the Swedish side…

Suddenly at around 5 pm the wind got very strong and we noticed thunder in a distance. Quickly we removed all loose things and the boat and retired indoors.

…and on the Finnish side

Then we opened a bottle of rum, brought by the kind visitors, and that is all from us today!

 

Wednesday 18.7.2007 – The stormiest day

Last night we saw a wonderful thunderstrom with beautiful lightnings! And a ghost standing at the door…

Morning was very windy and the sea level was high. We knew it was impossible to help anyone ashore so today was perfect for odd jobs: window and door repairs, storage tidying, carpet washing and general cleanings with a vacuum cleaner thanks to the new generator.

Soon there will be a new recycling station with marked places for each waste in one of the storages. Arne and Ingela have been building it while the rest of us have been helping to clear the stuff.

Waves have grown higher and higher during the day and now, at 6 pm the wind is around 14-15 m/s from south-west.

It is enjoyable to watch the weather from our kitchen window whilst having a bowl of hot soup.

 

Thursday 19.7.2007 – Time for seals and celebrations

The brand new recycling station!

This morning we carried on working with the recycling station and now it looks very organised and useful. Many thanks to Gea and Arne for building the station and the new shelves!

Easy to use!

Weather was stormy during the whole day as wind kept turning from one side of the islet to another. Sea seems to be calming now: hopefully Märket gets visitors in the weekend.

The wind blows on…

We have seen plenty of seals today, have been photographing and swimming with them! Quite a few seals crawled close to the lighthouse and some of them seemed to be having fun in the high tides.

Gea and Arne have done great job – now it is time to leave. We wish to see you again on Märket!

Gea and Arne finished their part of the difficult window project. Asta cooked us – once a again – a delicious supper. Tomorrow we will part as Sari and Satu stay at Märket for another week, Gea and Arne head to Norway and Asta back home.

Asta (in the front) and Sari – hard working women of Märket.

This morning started with special breakfast by celebrating Sari’s nameday and now it continues by a farewell evening. Thanks to all of us for a nice and eventful week together!