A belated reply
I’m sorry, I meant to send this email a year ago, but I never got around to do it, until I rediscovered your message in a bottle while cleaning. You see, I found your bottle on Massaholmen in the archipelago around Kotka on the 29th of July 2025. We were on a paddling trip with my kayaking club and we stayed for the night on the island.
Finding the bottle was quite the surprise, as I noticed it contained a letter. It was really interesting reading about your journey. In one of the photos we’re in the midst of reading your story. (I am the one in the middle.)
All of this was quite a coincidence, as we have met before. You see, in June of 2021 I was the lighthouse keeper at Märket for the first time, and you were the first guests to come visit the lighthouse. Back then there had been a heavy Northernly wind and the swell was substantial. In those days I didn’t paddle with a hard-shell kayak myself, but I had outgrown my inflatable one, and was interested in a real kayak.
Your adventure played a role in me getting my paddling certification and joining my local kayaking club. And in this way we come full circle, with me sending you this message.
I wish you exciting new adventures,
MP
