Today was even more shaky than the trip to the Market Reef. Phones where ringing and beeping (when they worked – coverage is really bad), and messages between the group on the reef, the captain of the boat and the finnish lighthouse society was exchanged. Looking around the island it was pretty hard to land anywhere. Also, there was very rought seas, so when the group supposed to arrive got half way the skipper tought it would be useless to continue and we were almost left on the reef for several more days before the weather was supposed to calm down. However, it was decided to keep going and try. There’s basically three possibilities to land on the island (all natural): At southern strong wind (or no wind, faint winds from any direction), you can land in the northern harbour. Very comfortable and close to the lighthouse. At northern winds, you have to bring a very small boat to land in ”the shit bay” on the southern side. Or, as today, when we had western winds and old sea – the entire island was hit by waves, both the northern and southern sides was impossible. At the eastern side there is a small opening where it was possible to put the front towards the cliffs and keep the engine running. This was possible but it’s 200 meters away from the other sites over uneven rocks, so we had to run over the island with all equipment while the boat and the landing site was flushed by waves. Not many were dry after unloading and loading the boat. The ride home was like a sunday pleasure ride. We went with the waves compared to the outgoing group who went against the waves and basically had a hell of a ride. The whole trip for the day was just finished. Starting at 10:00 from the Market Reef, by boat to Åland, then ferry to Grisslehamn (we had a great buffet of wild meat on the ferry by the way – I really recommend it!), then changing to the ferry bus to Uppsala, another change to the local bus towards Arlanda, finally, flight home to Gothenburg, and another bus and tram ride. Opened my front door at 20:15 just missing the first 20 minutes of the great football game between SM – PA that just ended! Last we heard from the finns, Martti and Juha unfortunatly ended up on a waiting list for the ferry from Mariehamn towards Finland, so if they were really unlucky they had to stay another night on Åland. During the week we had great support and company from Teija and Liisa from the Finnish Lighthouse Society, wich was greatly appreciated! Not a single guest visited the Market Reef during our stay, compared to last time in 2007 when it was summer and calm sea. It’s sad to leave this very magic place! I miss it already. It has quite some charm, even close to the upcoming winter with high winds, cold temperatures, ”manual” shower outside, and no supplies whatsoever from the mainland (no electric, freshwater, etc). What you bring to the island, you have. Everything else does not exist. I will get back with a real writeup and tons of pictures later on – when I have setteled into normal life again. First I have to adapt to the Swedish language again. It has only been English and very much Finnish during this week. I was the only one not speaking Finnish on the reef this time. Someone said there was almost no pictures of yours truly in the blog, and that depends on that I’ve only been using my own pictures, so this will be a slight ego-trip since we ”file shared” quite good before leaving – sharing pictures between everyone. If you haven’t read it yet, you should really read the blog of the Monk Monestary on Market Reef: http://www.qrz.com/db/OJ0X#mnk Also, check the last diary entries from the finnish lighthouse society’s last blog entries including our stay: http://www.majakkaseura.fi/eng/market/market_diary_2011/diary_091011/ http://www.majakkaseura.fi/eng/market/market_diary_2011/diary_101011/ http://www.majakkaseura.fi/eng/market/market_diary_2011/diary_111011/ If someone would ask me if I wanted to join them to the Market Reef again – there is no other possible answer than ”YES!”.