Engine maintenance stops us taking Ravensdale out on the water and my latest “little project” 😊

Phil pumping oil out of Ravensdale's starboard engine

Planned engine maintenance really hasn’t gone as planned over the last couple of weeks.

We decided Ravensdale’s two 300hp Volvo Penta engines were overdue an oil change and set about getting it done asap but, as usual, the task took much longer than we’d expected.

Once we’ve decided something needs doing, we prefer not to take Ravensdale out on the water until whatever maintenance we’re planning has been done. It just feels a little bit like tempting providence 😊

But hopefully, we’ll be able to get back out on the Solway Firth here in Cumbria, UK, very soon.

Meanwhile, I’ve been working on a little project that I’m hoping will raise much-needed funds for our local inshore rescue boat.


Oil change

Ravensdale's engine room

We decided to get on and change the oil in Ravensdale’s engines the week before last as there was no chance to take her out on the water due to wet and windy weather.

We went and bought 40 litres of oil as each of her engines takes 20 litres of oil.

We were disappointed that the motor spares supplier we use at nearby Workington couldn't get the oil filters we needed as we really wanted to get on with the job asap.

Phil ordered the filters online. He also ordered a pump to remove the old oil from the engines as he couldn’t get underneath them to drain the oil.

Phil using our new oil pump

The pump arrived fairly quickly but the filters were not due to arrive until yesterday (Thursday).

We accepted the delay, even though it meant that we missed a few opportunities to take Ravensdale out on the water at the start of this week.

We also knew the forecast for today (Friday) was good so we’d hoped to have the job done yesterday so we could go out today.

However, yesterday morning Phil got an email from the company that was supposed to be sending the filters to say they could get one to us straight away, but they couldn’t send the second one for 7-8 weeks.

That really wasn’t any good to us.

Having decided to do the job, we wanted to do it now, not in a couple of months’ time.

So, Phil cancelled that order, asked for a refund and started ringing around other suppliers.

He found another company that could send them out by next day delivery, and they arrived this afternoon (Friday).

Phil started draining the oil from Ravensdale’s starboard engine this morning hoping to get the oil in both engines changed and the new filters fitted by close of play today.

However, it turned out that removing the oil with the pump is a long job due to the narrowness of the pipe that fits into the hole that holds the dipstick.

So, he’s going to have to finish the job tomorrow – that’s not me instructing him to finish changing the oil tomorrow. He wants to do it. Honest! 😊

Charity calendar

The front cover of my charity calendar

This is the “little project” that took up so much of my time last week, which meant I would’ve been pushed for time to write my blog so I decided to give it a miss – especially as we hadn’t done anything exciting during the week.

I’ve been putting together a 2020 calendar of my photos of Maryport to sell to raise money for Maryport Inshore Rescue.

When you spend time at sea on a boat, it really brings home to you the huge importance of the service these volunteers provide.

Maryport Inshore Rescue is not part of the RNLI. It’s an independent lifeboat and swift water rescue organisation that relies on donations for funding.

The back of the calendar showing the photos for each month of the year

I stupidly started working on the calendars on Thursday of last week – the very day I usually write my blog so it’s ready to update and post on a Friday.

I really thought it would be a fairly quick job, but it proved to be anything but ☹

April's photo was taken from Ravensdale on the Solway Firth

It should’ve been a simple task, but I had so many photos to choose from that picking just 12 – one for each month – plus one to go on the cover was really difficult.

I changed my mind many times before settling for the ones I used.

I then encountered two other problems – firstly I couldn’t seem to get them to save at the correct size when I added the coloured frames in Photoshop.

I saved them at the size stipulated minus 2cm on their height and width so I could add a 1cm frame. However, every time I added the frame, they ended up 0.02mm too large in one direction and the same amount too small in the other.

I repeated the process over and over again but just couldn’t get it to work.

Eventually, I opted for increasing the short side of the images by 0.02mm before adding the frames and that seems to have done the trick.

When I thought I’d actually finished, I suddenly realised my images were all saved as RGB and they needed to be CMYK to ensure the colours were accurate, so I had to take all the images off the template and start all over again.

The proofs arrived yesterday (Thursday) and I’m very happy with the result so I’m glad I kept at it until I got it right.

As I have to pay for the calendars when I order them, I won’t be able to get too many printed initially.

However, if there’s enough interest, I’ll be able to get more printed after the initial print run.

And every penny of the profit will go to Maryport Inshore Rescue.

I just hope I can sell them now to make some money for this worthwhile charity.



Router box and the search for the missing varnish

Phil cutting timber to make the mobile Wi-Fi box

Phil has made a small wooden box to hold the router for our mobile Wi-Fi.

We’ve found one spot on Ravensdale where it works better than anywhere else on the boat – close to the ceiling above the steps from the saloon into the galley.

While experimenting with different locations, it has been hanging in a plastic food bag, but it doesn’t look good and was never meant to be a permanent solution.

So, Phil decided to make a box for it along the lines of the one he recently made for our handheld VHF radio.

Phil sanding the box before staining it

After making the box, he stained it to match the radio handset box, which was as close in colour as possible to the post to which it was fixed.

He then started searching for the small amount of varnish that he knew he had left after varnishing the previous box.

Phil carried out a thorough search of the aft lockers, which is where he expected it to be, then looked through almost every locker on the boat, including places that we really didn’t think it could possibly be, and, as usual, it was nowhere to be found.

We needed to buy more varnish anyway as there is a lot – and I mean A LOT – of varnishing that needs to be done on Ravensdale, so he gave up on the job and started packing his stuff away until we went out to get varnish.

The finished Wi-Fi box in situ

He then went into the heads to clean the stain off his hands, dipped his hands in a Swarfega (heavy-duty hand cleanser) pot to discover it was full of varnish. He’d used the empty container (after it had been washed, of course) to store the last of the old tin of varnish then put it away thinking it contained hand cleanser.

I found it really funny that he should find it right then and in such a dramatic way. Not sure if he was quite as amused 😊

But at least it meant he could get this job finished.


Ruby of Ravensdale

Ruby relaxing on Ravensdale

A phone selfie of Ruby and I on Ravensdale

Ruby’s allergy problems seem to have subsided at the moment but that’s probably because she’s back on two doses a day of her allergy tablets.

She started scratching and chewing her feet again when we tried to drop the dose to half a tablet once a day.

The vet said to put her back up to half a tablet twice a day for another two weeks and then try reducing it again.

When she first started treating Ruby for allergies, she said she hoped they may be summer allergies, but she now thinks that unlikely as they’re showing no sign of letting up, so it looks as though she’s going to have allergies all year.

The next step was to try her on a very restricted, wheat and grain-free diet, which we started this week with absolutely no extras.

And, if anyone we meet while out asks if they can give her a treat, the answer is always no.

I’m not risking another severe allergic reaction like the one she suffered a couple of weeks ago.

Phil washing Ruby's ball in a pool after it got covered in sand

On Saturday, Ruby enjoyed her first walk on the beach since she started her last season or at least the first time that she was able to run off lead without us having to worry about her attracting male dogs.

Ruby fetching her ball on the beach at Maryport

She’s getting better than ever at waiting while I take photos while walking her. I still tie her up if there are railings around and she sits and waits patiently until I’m ready to move on.

But I’ve also been able to take photos by just telling her to wait when there's nothing suitable to tie her to, so that’s definitely an improvement.

Ruby waiting on Maryport Promenade while I was taking a photo

She was really good when I took her for a walk along The Promenade here in Maryport on Wednesday afternoon.

It was one of the longest walks she’d done and included walking on the hard surface of the prom, the grass on the landward side of the prom and down on the shore.

I think she enjoyed it but she was very tired when we got back.

Ruby checking out one of the new signs

Nothing annoys me more than dog owners who don’t pick up after their pets.

On Tuesday morning, I saw what looked from a distance to be a man watching his dog make a mess. He then looked in my direction and walked off without making any attempt to pick it up.

When I got to the spot, I could see that I had been correct. If I’d been closer, I would definitely have reminded him that he should clean it up.

Later the same day, we walked the same path to discover that someone had painted “Clean it up!” signs on the pathway. I just hope people take notice of them.

Ruby seemed very interested in the strange yellow paint that she seemed to think shouldn’t be there and stopped at every sign we came across.

Although she hates going out in the rain, she seems to enjoy being dried when she gets home. We took her for a walk in the rain on Sunday afternoon and Phil gave her a good rub down with her towel when we got back.

Phil drying Ruby after her walk in the rain

Meanwhile, when the sun streams in through Ravensdale’s windows, Ruby always seeks out the hotspots and stretches out in them to top up her tan.

Ruby sunbathing on Ravensdale

Ruby watching Phil prepare food in the galley

Another of her favourite pastimes is sitting at the top of the steps from the saloon into the galley while anyone is preparing food.

Ruby goes in for a closer look

Sometimes she sits at our feet waiting in the hope something will drop but, if it’s really interesting like when Phil is cutting up raw chicken, she stands up with her feet on the bench 😊



Ravensdale gets a big sister 😊

Carna at Maryport Marina

A new boat has arrived at Maryport Marina that looks like Ravensdale’s big sister.

A Horizon Ranger 47, called Carna, arrived on Tuesday and is moored at the opposite end of the marina to Ravensdale.

She's a very similar looking boat but a bit bigger than ours.

Ravensdale at Maryport Marina

We understand Carna will be staying in Maryport but have yet to meet her owners.


Wildlife

The cygnet that was rescued from Maryport Marina and his new partner. Photo: AniMel Haven

I was delighted to hear that the injured cygnet that was rescued from the marina slipway earlier this year stayed at AniMel Haven after it recovered.

This cygnet, who was one of last year's Maryport brood, has now paired up with a cygnet that was rescued from nearby Allonby.

I’m a sucker for a happy ending 😊

Meanwhile, this year’s swan family has visited the marina quite often this week looking for food.

The adult swans and this year's young waiting to be fed this week

I guess this is because the cooler weather is making it more difficult for them to find food in the wild.

The adult swans asking for more food

And we were surprised to see a barn owl hunting on the grass verge near the marina on Saturday evening while we were walking back towards Ravensdale.

Sadly, I was unable to get a photo of it because it was pretty dark and I only had my phone with me, which isn’t great when it comes to low light photography.


Photography

Reflections at Maryport Marina

I didn’t get to take many photos during the first week after my last blog post but did get some nice shots of the boats reflected on the still water at the marina on Sunday evening (October 6).

Marina reflections

Marina reflections

Marina reflections

And I took my camera over to the shore to capture the sunset on Thursday evening (October 10).

Solway Firth sunset

Closer view of the Solway Firth Sunset

Maryport Lighthouse at sunset

Solway Firth sunset

I also took photos of the sunset over the Solway Firth on Saturday evening (October 12). There were a lot of fishermen out digging bait at low tide and I liked the way they were silhouetted against the water with the colourful sky in the background.

Bait diggers on the shore at Maryport at sunset

The sun going down over the Solway Firth

Bait diggers on the shore

A wider view of the bait diggers at sunset

Fishermen on the shore at Maryport

I took my camera for a walk around the harbour on Monday to capture the reflections of the fishing boats on the still water at high tide.

Reflections on the still water at Maryport Harbour

Ellenfoot Bridge at Maryport Harbour

Fishing boats reflected in the still water at Maryport Harbour

Repainting a fishing boat in Maryport Harbour

We had another beautiful sunset on Monday evening (October 14) and this time I chose to take photos across the basin towards the lighthouse and across the marina.

Sunset over Maryport Basin

Sunset over Maryport Basin

Sunset over Maryport Marina

Sunset over Maryport Marina

Another view of sunset over Maryport Marina

And I took lots of photos when I took Ruby for a walk along the Promenade on Wednesday afternoon (October 16).

Looking along Maryport Promenade towards the town

The Scottish hills across the Solway Firth

Looking towards Maryport from the shore by the Promenade

Another view of the Scottish hills from the Promenade

The afternoon sun dropping down over Maryport Lighthouse

Weather watch 

Drying my hair in the windy weather on Tuesday (October 8)

The first week was pretty wet and windy. Thankfully, the past week has been calmer with less rain, but the weather is definitely getting cooler.

Saturday (October 5) was dry, bright and calm becoming windier as the day went on. The top temperature was 14C (57F) and the top average wind speed was 11mph.

Sunday (October 6) was cloudy but it stayed dry for most of the day with light rain for a while in the afternoon. It was breezy during the morning, getting calmer in the late afternoon and evening.

The sun came out late afternoon and the temperature reached 12C (54F), with a top average wind speed of 24mph, gusting 33mph, recorded at our nearest weather station at St Bees Head but it was definitely less windy here.

We had heavy rain overnight and it was still raining when we got up on Monday (October 7). It stayed cloudy for most of the day but was a bit brighter later in the afternoon. The top temperature was14C (57F) and the top average wind speed was 19mph.

Monday night into Tuesday (October 8) was another very windy night and it stayed windy throughout the day on Tuesday.

The top average wind speed overnight was 28mph, gusting 38mph and the top average wind speed during the day was 33mph, gusting 46mph.

It was mainly dry and fairly bright with a little light rain mid-morning and heavy rain during the evening. The top temperature was 13C (55F).

The high winds continued overnight Tuesday into Wednesday (October 9) with a top average wind speed overnight of 31mph, gusting 44mph.

Rain at Maryport Marina during the afternoon of Wednesday (October 9)

Wednesday was cloudy but bright during the morning with rain late afternoon. The top temperature was 13C (55F) and the top average wind speed was 28mph, gusting 38mph.

Heavy clouds over Maryport Marina on Thursday (October 10)

Thursday (October 10) was overcast but mainly dry and still pretty windy but nowhere near as blustery and previous days. The top temperature was 13C (55F) and the top average wind speed was 22mph, gusting 34mph.

Friday (October 11) was mainly dry and bright with a little light rain during the late afternoon. The top temperature was 13C (55F) and the top average wind speed was 26mph, gusting 34mph.

The wind dropped down overnight from 23mph, gusting 32mph, at 10pm to 15mph at 7am.

We had rain first thing then on Saturday (October 12). It was then dry and bright with showers – some heavy – before the rain cleared late afternoon.

A sunny interval between the showers at Maryport Marina on Saturday morning

The top temperature was 13C (55F) and the top average wind speed was 15mph.

We had heavy rain overnight and it continued raining for most of the day on Sunday varying from heavy rain to light rain, with very little wind. The top temperature was 11C (52F) and the top average wind speed was 9mph.

Calm conditions at Maryport Marina on Monday

Monday was dry and calm with sunshine and light cloud. The top temperature was 13C (55F) and the top average wind speed was 14mph.

Maryport Marina on Tuesday afternoon

Tuesday was another dry, calm day. It was sunny first thing with the cloud cover increasing as the day went on. The top temperature was 11C (52F) and the top average wind speed was 14mph.

We had rain overnight and it was still raining first thing on Wednesday, but it cleared up to give a dry, bright and breezy day. The top temperature was 12C (54F) and the top average wind speed was 23mph, gusting 36mph.

Phone photo of the rain arriving at Maryport Marina yesterday (Thursday) afternoon

Yesterday (Thursday) was dry and bright with light cloud during the morning. It was fairly breezy with rain arriving late afternoon.

The top temperature was 12C (54F) and the top average wind speed was 25mph, gusting 36mph, at St Bees Head, but it was definitely less windy than that here.

Sun breaking through the clouds at Maryport Marina today (Friday)

And today (Friday) the weather has been fairly calm and dry with cloud, sunny intervals and a few light showers. The top temperature was 12C (54F) and the top average wind speed was 15mph.