The moment I'm writing this, the wind is about to change direction and blows suddenly from the South. The sky is getting a bit cloudy, which seems absolutely promising.

We have been lucky to enjoy the most beautiful summer week here with clear skies, sun and wind blowing rather mildly from North East. Now we actually hope to get something a bit more harsh, but seemigly in vain: they've promised more of the kind. Or, there's nothing to do but embrace all this beauty.

As the morning was like no other and the sea calm, we decided to get to know our fancy little boat little closer.


Nina's sea rescue simulation went just fine until: "my pants are too slippery!"

Considering herself a great sailor, AE decided to row Märket runt (round Märket). The girls, starting to fancy earthly temptations, asked her to bring chocolate and beer from the nearest shop.

This heroish journey was, nevertheless, interrupted right at the beginning; there was a boat approaching! Now we had our chance to save our faces. We catched a glimpse of a boat also the day before, but that one passed and we could only watch our stunning 100 per cent-of-passing-yachts-stops-record deteriorate.

Well, this one stopped and anchored again on the Southern end of the reef, the pilot was luckily already there with her little red miracle.

The visitors were Berndt and Dyrten Moberg from Espoo, but they came from their summer cottage in Dalsbruk (Taalintehdas). They stayed for coffee and the head guide Maija's tour, and we really spent some glad moments together.


Dyrten, Nina, Berndt and Maija discussed their boating experiences at the coffee shop Märket.

As AE was taking Berndt and Dyrten back to their boat, we saw another yacht heading towards the reef. The captain of that one had just visited Märket some weeks ago, so he stayed in the boat while his sons (I presume) Niklas and Tobias Hellman, two very charming young men from Singö Grisslehamn, Sweden, got ashore.


AE the pilot takes Nicke and Tobbe to the reef.


Hellmans on Märket: "Who would have believed this morning where we end up!"

After Nicke and Tobbe left, we almost had the boat home when came the next visitors. The pilot was a bit horrified by them driving so close to the reef, but after having found out Timo Rundqvist is a real pilot from Mariehamn she considered they might well know what they're doing.

Timo and Tryggve Rundqvist came from the summer cottage in Vårdö especially to visit Märket, and we also shared some interesting stories and laughs around the coffee table.


Tryggve & Timo in "the best photo taken on this island."

All in all, what a delightful day with surprises, good people, very many seals around and ... Yes, what about that chocolate and beer


AE hands chocolate and beer to Maija. Promise is promise... (Warmest thanks to Berndt and Dyrten.

Märket thanks all the new friends, and older ones alike. You're great. We're over and out.

AE & the famous Märket crew