Sunday 4.10.2015
Finally the old crew was able to leave, except Kalle and Pete who will stay for one more week. Two new lighthouse keepers, Johanna and Pekka, were warmly welcomed, also by a curious gold crest hanging in the ceiling.
Monday 5.10.2015
Newcomers woke up early before the sunrise and rushed out to fresh northern wind to watch the morning stars. Especially the bright Venus looked magnificient.
Sunny and windy day. After the tradional lighthouse porrige breakfast the crew decided voluntarily to solve problems in the waste water filtering system. A very good rule of thumb:If nothing else helps read the instructions!
According to a permission of the headquarters also composting of kitchen biowaste was restarted at the lighthouse for the rest of the season.
No matter how busy you might be never miss a chance to take the photo of the day.
We also started a dusty job up in the attic of the lighthouse making an inventory of all the old items that have been stored there for decades. Task to be continued for several days.
Well deserved sauna at the time of sunset followed by a freshly baked apple pie at the evening tea. Later in the dark night we admired the clear autumn sky full of stars.
Tuesday 6.10.2015 ”Ei pöllömpi päivä”
Chilly morning. Multitasking morning, reorganising cement bags, moving firewood, continuing inventory of the old stuff in the attic.
Todays special guest star, an owl (Aegolius funereus, helmipöllö), ruined our daily schedule. He found a daytime hide on a steel hook under the bridge and we had to watch as he sat there relaxed for several hours. Taking hundreds of photos did not seem to disturb him at all. In the twilight he finally left us.
Inventory of the attic, from old lamps to wooden nails, from old paint jars to ancient handbooks. Every morning a new voluntary is ordered to accompany Johanna to the dusty heritage world of the lighthouse.
In the evening Mirja from the previous crew called and asked if we can see arctic lights on the sky. We rushed out immediately and indeed… what a spectacular view: The whole northern sky was on fire! Grown-up people jumped and crawled on the cliffs like little kids to get photos of the unbelievable scene.
Wednesday 7.10.2015
Märket seems to be the warmest place in Finland. Outside temperature in the morning was almost 8 C.
White tail eagles fly high over Märket on a regular basis – but unfortunately they don’t pay a visit very often so that one could catch them on film.
It only takes a day or two for a new crew to organise the daily routines. We like to alternate all tasks, today it was Pete’s turn to cook, Kalle ”the boss” of the week washed the dishes.
We got our first rain shower in the afternoon. However, we managed to move firewood drying on the terrace and pile it up in the storage under the roof just on time before it started to rain.
In the night we were ready this time to spot northern lights, which were, according to the space weather forecast, to be expected. Matti, a Märket veteran, still called and reminded us not to miss the spectacle. In the picture Pete is hurrying with his torch to find the best place for the camera.
Thursday 8.10.2015
Our project in the attic continued, things were documented and some were safely stored in wooden boxes.
Late in the afternoon last inventory lists were written. Hopefully we will have a new exhibition at Märket’s museum next season.
Friday 9.10.2015
Last night was the third night in a row when we had a chance to watch the shining northern lights. It has already become a part of our daily routines. Also morning was fine: moon, Venus, Jupiter and Mars close together in the clear sky.
After the breakfast it was so calm that we decided to make a quick seal watching tour by our motorboat out to the farthest reef. Curious seals popped up from the sea when we came closer and they heard the sound of running motor.
In the afternoon we were finishing the inventory of the attic. Suddenly, from the darkest and dustiest corner we found an astonished old lighthouse keeper and his apprentice.
The old lighthouse keeper was not satisfied because the light of Understen lighthouse was so much brighter and Märket appeared far too dim next to it.
Peace was returned and maybe it truly is time to change the shift tomorrow. On the other hand, you could never know what would happen if Pete and Kalle would stay third week on Märket. Hopefully this amazing story will continue another time.
The past week has shown that Märket never lets you down, every time a new story!