Our third liveaboard anniversary and a successful fishing trip

Phil steering Ravensdale back into Maryport Marina after Saturday's fishing trip

We moved on board Ravensdale – our 43ft Neptunus 133 motor cruiser – three years ago this week.

And we’re still enjoying our liveaboard lifestyle 😊

Phil refitted the exhaust elbow to her starboard engine after it had been repaired.

And we were pleased to be able to get out fishing again at the weekend after our boat had been stuck in the marina for more than a month – due to exhaust problems, bad weather and me recently starting a part-time job.

Meanwhile, we were pleased to discover that Ruby wasn’t too bothered by fireworks.


Happy boativersary to us! 😊

Ravensdale when we first moved on board in November 2016

We celebrated the third anniversary of moving on board Ravensdale on Monday.

We sold our house and bought our boat on October 20, 2016 but didn’t move on board until two weeks later, on November 4.

This was because the boat was out on the hardstanding here at Maryport Marina in Cumbria, UK, while work was carried out that could only be done when she was out of the water.

At that time, we didn’t think it would be possible to live on board while she was chocked up, so we booked holiday accommodation nearby until she was back in the water.

And we moved on board on the day she was back afloat.

It was an exciting and slightly scary day. It felt weird to be calling a boat home 😊

But we’ve both enjoyed the past three years in our cosy, floating home.

The dinette on Ravensdale

Ravensdale's helm

Ravensdale's saloon

Refitting the exhaust elbow

The repaired exhaust elbow

The exhaust elbow Phil removed from Ravensdale’s starboard engine last week was welded and he refitted it last Friday afternoon.

The repaired exhaust elbow fitted to the outlet

He says it was fairly simple to fit but he ended up with a bit of a stiff back from working bent over in the engine room as there isn’t room to stand up straight.

Phil refitting the exhaust elbow

Phil then started the engine to check it was running OK and it was fine.



Saturday’s fishing trip

Ravensdale heading towards the gate as we left Maryport Marina on Saturday

We had said we weren’t going to take Ravensdale out on the water again until Phil had changed the oil in both engines.

He hadn’t had a chance to change the oil in her port engine as he’d been busy repairing the exhaust system problem he discovered while changing the oil in her starboard engine.

However, the weather was so nice on Saturday that we decided it was too good an opportunity to miss.

Phil also wanted to take her out for a run to check the work he’d done on her exhaust was all working properly.

We left the marina at around 12.20pm in sunny and fairly calm conditions and we headed up to Phil’s favourite fishing spot in Allonby Bay.

Ravensdale leaving Maryport

There was very little wind but there was a good swell.

The boat was rolling around a bit, but we decided to drop anchor and see if she settled down.

She continued to rock, but it wasn’t so bad that it stopped Phil fishing or me taking photos.

Phil started setting up his rods, but his line became tangled on his first cast.

Phil setting up one of his fishing rods

He’d put the line out then noticed he had a bird’s nest in his reel.

He tried to untangle it, but it didn’t work so he decided the only way to deal with it was to cut the line.

So that’s what he did, and he gave me the cut-off end that was attached to the hook, which was still out in the water, and asked me to hold on to it.

I wrapped it around my hand and held it until he had removed the tangled line.

He then tied the end I’d been holding back onto the line on the reel and reeled in the line to discover a good-sized cod had taken his bait.

Phil with the first and largest cod he caught on this trip

It measured 45cm and was the biggest cod he’s caught so far on the Solway Firth although technically I think I caught it as I’m pretty sure it was hooked while I was holding the line 😊

Phil was delighted with the catch, rebaited the hook and put the same rod out again before setting up a second rod and almost immediately he had a similar-sized cod on the first rod.

Phil with his second cod

The fishing then when quiet for a while before he caught a couple of dogfish, followed by another one that got away – not that he minded at all as they’re a total pain.

A phone selfie taken in Allonby Bay with Phil fishing from Ravensdale's aft deck

An added bonus was watching four porpoises swimming around the boat for about 15 minutes.

They were just too far away to get any decent photos of them, but I got a few shots to prove they were there, and it was lovely to be able to watch them, although they could’ve been the reason Phil stopped catching fish 😊

Porpoises in the Solway Firth

Porpoises in the Solway Firth with Maryport in the background

As I’ve explained before, Ruby knows that she has to be in her cage when Ravensdale is underway and, as soon as we start the engines, she goes in her cage if the door is open or sits by the door and waits for us to open it if it’s closed.

Ruby in her cage while we were at sea

And she lays down in her bed all the time we're travelling but usually sits up and wants to be let out soon after we drop anchor and turn the engines off.

However, on this trip she showed no sign of wanting to come out. She stayed laying down even when I walked past her to get our lunch or cups of tea.

We decided to leave her where she was unless she looked as though she wanted to come out, but she never did so she stayed in the cage until we were back in the marina at about 3.10pm after almost three hours out on the water.

Ravensdale returning to Maryport

Ruby of Ravensdale

Ruby relaxing on Ravensdale

It appears that Ruby isn’t too bothered about fireworks, which is good, as they were let off every night over five to six evenings at the end of last month and the beginning of this month.

There were organised displays on Saturday evening and on November 5, but there were also random folk letting them off on the beach and in the area around the marina on other evenings.

The first couple of nights she ran to the door and barked when they went off, but she soon got over that to the point that she totally ignored them, even if we were outside when she heard the loud bangs.

And we’re hoping that Ruby’s allergies are settling down a bit now.

She still chews her feet a bit in the mornings, when the previous day’s tablet has worn off, but she isn’t doing any damage.

And I’m sure she’s chewing them less now than when we first reduced her allergy medication from half a tablet twice a day to once a day.

I haven’t been able to take photos of Ruby on her walks as Phil has been walking her while I’ve been at work this week.

Ruby waiting for me to take photos across Maryport Basin

But I did take a couple of shots of her when I tied her up while taking photos when I took her for a walk after our trip out on the Solway Firth on Saturday afternoon.


Photography

A yacht leaving Maryport

Most of the photos from the past week were taken while we were out on the Solway Firth on Saturday.

The northern fells from the Solway Firth

A yacht on the Solway Firth with Iggesund Paperboard Mill in the background

Maryport from the Solway Firth

Another view of Maryport from the Solway Firth

South Pier at Maryport with the paperboard mill in the background

There were some very dramatic skies while we were out on the water.

Heavy clouds over the Solway Firth

Sun breaking through the clouds over the Solway Firth

Maryport from the Solway Firth

A hole in the clouds

And I was particularly pleased with the photos I took of fishermen on the pier as we were returning to Maryport.

Fishermen on Maryport Pier

Fishermen on the end of the pier

I took some photos around the harbour while walking Ruby after our trip out on Ravensdale on Saturday afternoon. The water was really still and there was a lovely light as the sun was going down.

Reflections on the still water at Maryport Harbour

Boats and buildings reflected in Maryport harbour

A wider view of the harbour

Maryport Harbour

Harbour reflections

Colourful fishing boats in the evening sunshine

Maryport from across the harbour

We then walked along the River Ellen where I took a few shots of the river at sunset.

The Maryport swan family on the River Ellen at dusk

The River Ellen

The blue footbridge over the River Ellen at sunset

Sunset over the River Ellen

Weather watch

Calm, sunny weather as we left Maryport Marina on Saturday

The best day of the past week was definitely Saturday when the sun put in a very welcome appearance and it was still warm enough to be out on the Solway Firth in a T-shirt.

There’s been a good bit of rain during the rest of the week.

And it’s definitely getting cooler with temperatures failing to reach double figures on most days.

Saturday was dry, bright and fairly calm. The top temperature was 8.7C (48F) and the top average wind speed was 10mph. The wind speed while we were out on the water was 2-7mph.

Sunday was cloudy with light rain showers and a rainbow appeared just before the rain stopped early afternoon. The top temperature was 9.9C (50F) and the top average wind speed was 14mph.

A rainbow over Maryport Marina on Sunday afternoon

Monday was cloudy and breezy with rain showers and heavier rain in the evening. The top temperature was 10.1C (50F) and the top average wind speed was 17mph.

Tuesday was cloudy and windy with frequent rain. The top temperature was 9.1C (48F) and the top average wind speed was 21mph, gusting 31mph.

It was dry first thing on Wednesday then cloudy with frequent rain. The top temperature was 5.9C (43F) and the top average wind speed was 17mph.

Yesterday (Thursday) was mainly wet with fine rain for much of the day. The top temperature was 7C (45F) and the top average wind speed was 22mph, gusting 30mph.

Clear blue sky at Maryport Marina today (Friday)

And today (Friday) the weather has been dry, sunny and pretty chilly. The temperature was just 2.6C (37F) at 8am and only reached 5.2C (41F). The top average wind speed was 18mph, gusting 29mph, at St Bees Head but it was definitely less windy in Maryport.

Exhaust problems keep Ravensdale in the marina and Ruby celebrates her first birthday😊

Phil removing the exhaust from Ravensdale's starboard engine

Ruby with one of her birthday presents

Phil completed the oil change for Ravensdale’s starboard engine but has yet to tackle her port engine after discovering two problems that required urgent attention.

An exhaust elbow seam on our 43ft Neptunus 133 motor cruiser’s starboard engine was rusty and leaking.

And the exhaust cover that runs along the outside of her hull on the same side had sprung a leak.

So, we turned Ravensdale around to enable Phil to fix the exhaust cover problem and ended up moored up facing the wrong way for four days until the work was done and the weather was calm enough to turn her again.

He then removed the exhaust elbow and a local man repaired it for us.

Meanwhile, it’s three years since we sold our house in the Scottish Highland and bought our floating home, we celebrated Ruby’s first birthday and I started a new job.


Oil change

Phil pouring oil into Ravensdale's starboard engine

Phil finished off draining the oil from Ravensdale’s starboard engine.

New oil filter

He also changed the oil filter on this engine after filling it with oil.

Phil then refilled the engine with new oil, which wasn’t easy when the boat was rocking because the marina gate had just been opened.

After he’d finished, he ran the engine and the oil pressure was fine.

The plan was to move straight on to draining the oil from Ravensdale’s port engine.

However, when Phil started up the starboard engine, he discovered another job that needed more urgent attention.

He heard a sound that he didn’t recognise, went outside to check where it was coming from and discovered water spraying out from the underside of the external exhaust cover that runs along the side of Ravensdale’s hull.



Exhaust problems

We turned Ravensdale around on Sunday (October 20) after Phil discovered water leaking from the underside of the exhaust cover on the starboard side of her hull.

She’s usually moored up on her port side facing into the prevailing winds, which are either southerlies or westerlies, but we moored up the other way around so Phil could get to her starboard side.

Ravensdale moored up the other way around at Maryport Marina in Cumbria, UK

Water pouring from the underside of the exhaust cover

Mooring up the wrong way around wasn’t a problem as the wind was blowing from the north and northeast on Sunday and Monday and it was relatively calm.

However, it veered around to the south and south-west on Tuesday and continued blowing from that direction for the next couple of days when it was considerably stronger than it had been on the preceding days.

Thankfully, Phil managed to do the work to the exhaust cover before the wind got up.

He had to lay on the pontoon and use my handbag make-up mirror to inspect the problem.

He discovered that the sealant had come away under the exhaust cover in the area that was leaking.

Phil laying on the pontoon and using my make-up mirror to look under the exhaust cover

A closer view of Phil looking under the exhaust cover

Phil scraped off the old sealant with a small screwdriver and cleaned up the area of the hull that had been behind the sealant with a chisel before sanding it with wet and dry sandpaper.

He then resealed it using a sealant that can be applied and goes off underwater as he was using it very close to the waterline.

The sealant had to be left for at least 24 hours before he could start the engine to see if the leak had been stopped.

And, while Ravensdale was back to front, Phil took the opportunity to thoroughly clean her starboard side.

Phil cleaning the starboard side of  Ravensdale's hull

The split seam on the exhaust elbow

We turned her around to face into the prevailing wind on Thursday evening when I got home from work.

This week, Phil removed the damaged exhaust elbow from Ravensdale’s starboard engine and took it to the local engineer who has previously done welding work for us.

He was busy but another local man did the job straight away.

Phil is hoping to refit the elbow today (Friday).

All that remains now – as far as we know – is to change the oil in the port engine and then Ravensdale will be ready to go out on the water again.



Boat purchase anniversary

Ravensdale - then Candlelight - with her "for sale" board when we first saw her in August 2016

On Sunday, October 20, it was three years since we took ownership of Ravensdale, but we don’t really celebrate the anniversary until two weeks later when we moved on board.

In some ways, it’s difficult to believe it’s that long since I left my job as a journalist on a daily newpaper and we sold our house to buy a boat.

But, in other ways, it feels as though we’ve always lived on board.


Charity calendar

Some of the charity calendars that arrived this week

August's photo

Orders for the calendar of my Maryport photos that I decided to get printed to raise money for our local, independent inshore rescue service have far outstripped my expectations.

I originally planned to order 25 and maybe order more if I managed to sell them all.

However, as soon as I posted an advert for my calendar, using photos of the proof, on a local Facebook group the orders came flooding in.

I upped my initial order to 35 when I placed it on Saturday.

However, by the end of the weekend, it was obvious I would need more so I called the printer on Monday and increased my order to 100 as I had orders for about 85.

By Wednesday evening, I had orders for all of them and more coming in, so I ended up ordering another 30 calendars last weekend.

People are still asking if they can order calendars so I may have to order more, but not until I’ve collected the money for those that I have already ordered.

I’m totally amazed and equally delighted that so many people want to buy them 😊

Me packing up the calendars ready for collection

The first batch arrived earlier this week and I sent out messages to all the folk who'd ordered them asking them to arrange collection or send payment and details for posting them out.

I spent most of yesterday (Thursday) running up and down to the gate to meet people who'd come to collect the.

There were more people coming for them today (Friday) and over the weekend.

And I’m being asked for more so I’m keeping a list of folk who still want them saying I may order more when I’ve collected the money for the ones I’ve ordered so far.

As long as everyone who's said they want calendars pays for them, it looks as though they’re going to raise a useful sum for Maryport Inshore Rescue 😊



New job

Me working at Chimney Sheep making a chimney draught excluder

I’ve been considering getting a part-time job for a while and started doing three-days a week in a local factory this week.

Initially, it’s just until the end of the year.

I love how I came by this job. It really was the weirdest way to get a job ever.

Regular readers of my blog may remember when a parcel addressed to us on our boat at Maryport Marina was bizarrely delivered to Chimney Sheep on the Solway Industrial Estate.

Fortunately, a Facebook friend, who I’d never met, worked there and messaged me to let me know it was there.

I went along to pick it up and, while chatting to my Facebook friend, just happened to mention that I was considering looking for a part-time job.

She told me to speak to her boss who told me to send her my CV, which I did.

And last Tuesday afternoon, I got an email offering me three days a week in production and packing until the end of this year.

I started at 9am the following day and worked Wednesday to Friday, which is why I didn’t get a chance to write my blog last week, and Monday to Wednesday this week.

The company makes draught excluders for chimneys out of sheep’s wool (amongst other things) – hence the name Chimney Sheep.

Felt arrives in Maryport ready to be made into chimney draught excluders and other items

It’s certainly strange to be going out to work again, but they’re a good bunch so it’s a great environment to work in.

And it’s good to feel I’m contributing to the family finances again, even if it is only for a couple of months 😊


Ruby of Ravensdale

Ruby sunbathing on Ravensdale this week

Ruby at around six weeks

It seems impossible to believe that Ruby turned one on Monday of this week.

It only seems like yesterday that we picked up our beautiful little staffie puppy and brought her home to Ravensdale.

And I reckon it was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. She’s a little monkey but she is so much fun and I love her to bits.

I bought her a purple hippo toy and a new stag antler as birthday presents, but neither lasted very long.

Ruby tearing chunks off her new toy hippo

She pulled the hippo’s tail off in a matter of seconds, its ears lasted a minute or two longer and she had bitten a hole in its rear end and was pulling the stuffing out within about 10 minutes, so I had to take it away.

Her new stag antler lasted a little longer, but not a lot 😊

Ruby tossing her antler, as she does with all new chew toys

I gave it to her at about 6pm and before we went to bed she’d chewed it down from about seven inches to a small stump so I had to throw it away as I was worried she would choke on it.

Ruby happily chewing her new antler

Meanwhile, we’re hoping her allergy problems are improving.

We dropped her allergy tablets from half a tablet twice a day to once a day on Friday (October 18) and she started chewing her feet again the following morning.

The sad face I have to say goodbye to when I leave for work

We waited a fortnight, as advised by the vet, to see if it improved and she does seem to be chewing her feet and scratching her ears less often so we’re hoping she may stabilise on half a tablet.

Ruby was totally confused by us turning Ravensdale around to work on her starboard side.

She kept barking at the views out of the windows because she was seeing the wrong things on the wrong sides of the boat.

Every time she jumped onto Ravensdale from our boarding steps, she went forward instead of onto the aft deck to get indoors. She then had to turn around and head back towards the stern.

She isn't very impressed when I have to leave her to go to work in the morning and I get a very enthusiastic greeting when I get home.

And she really doesn’t like going out in the rain. We have to persuade her to leave the boat but once she’s out she’s fine.

As soon as she gets back inside and warm and dry, she curls up and sleeps for most of the day – either that or she’s pretending to be asleep, so we don’t drag her out again any sooner😊

Ruby on one of our walks along the River Ellen last week

She’s had lots of good walks, with Phil while I was working and me, or both of us, when I was off work.

Ruby helping Phil wash the windows on Ravensdale

And Ruby had a lot of fun trying to bite the water through the windows when Phil was washing them last week. I’m sure she thought she was helping.

It was totally hilarious to watch 😊


Photography

I haven't managed to get out with my camera as much as usual over the past couple of weeks, mainly due to work, but also the amount of time involved in sorting out calendar orders and arranging for them to be collected.

However, I took some photos with my phone while out walking Ruby by the River Ellen at Maryport  on Saturday, October 19.

Looking along the River Ellen towards Maryport - phone photo

Looking in the opposite direction along the footpath next to the River Ellen - phone photo

The sun going down over the River Ellen - phone photo

Another view along the River Ellen with Christ Church in the distance - phone photo

I took my camera along on one of Ruby's walks on Tuesday, October 22.

Grasslot shore at Maryport looking towards Flimby

Maryport Marina

A closer view of Maryport Marina

Maryport beach with the Scottish hills in the distance

A closer view of the beach

I also went out for a walk around the harbour last Saturday.

Fishing boats in Maryport Harbour

A colourful fishing boat in Maryport Harbour

More boats in the harbour

And I managed to get out for the sunset on Saturday and Sunday evening.

The sun going down over the Solway Firth on Saturday

Bait diggers on the shore at Maryport at sunset

Saturday's sunset at Maryport

A closer view of the sunset

Saturday's Solway sunset

Sunday's sunset from Maryport shore

An upright view of Sunday's sunset

A panoramic view of sunset over Maryport shore

Weather watch

Rain was a recurring theme during last week

We had a lot of wind and rain last week, but the weather this week has been a lot nicer, even though it's getting cooler.

Saturday (October 19) started cloudy and wet but relatively calm, with light rain during the morning followed by heavier rain during the afternoon, which stopped around teatime. The top temperature was 10C (50F) and the top average wind speed at St Bees Head – our nearest weather station - was 23mph, but it was definitely less windy here.

Rain on Saturday (October 19) at Maryport Marina

On Sunday (October 20) it was spitting with rain in the morning, then dry for the rest of the day with clouds, sunny intervals and a good breeze. The top temperature was 10C (50F) and the top average wind speed was 22mph, gusting 32mph.

Monday (October 21) was dry, bright and relatively calm. The temperature reached 10C (50F) and the top average wind speed was 8mph.

Tuesday (October 22) was dry, bright and breezy with a top temperature of 10C (50F) and top average wind speed of 18mph.

Wednesday (October 23) was bright and cloudy but thankfully stayed dry. The top temperature was 11C (52F) and the top average wind speed was 24mph, gusting 34mph.

The miserable view through Ravensdale's windscreen on Thursday (October 24)

We had heavy rain overnight and Thursday (October 24) was mainly dry with a heavy shower in the evening. The top temperature was 12C (54F) and the top average wind speed was 24, gusting 32mph.

Overnight Thursday into Friday (October 25) was a cold night with the temperature dropping to 4C (39F). It was dry first thing on Friday with heavy rain until late afternoon followed by drizzle during the evening. The top temperature was 8C (46F) and the average wind speed was 14mph.

Saturday (October 26) was dry, sunny and breezy.

Sunday (October 27) was another dry, sunny and breezy day with a top temperature of 10C (50F) and a top average wind speed of 25mph, gusting 36mph.

Calm conditions at Maryport Marina on Sunday afternoon

Overnight Sunday into Monday was a cold night followed by a frosty start to the day with the temperature dropping to 2C (36F) at 7am. The pontoons were a bit slippery in places and there was ice on car windscreens.

There was a clear sky and it stayed dry and sunny but cool throughout the day. The top temperature was 7C (45F) and the top average wind speed at St Bees Head was 14mph, but it was less than that here.

Tuesday was another chilly morning with the temperature falling to 2.5C (36.5F) at 5am. It was a dry, calm and sunny day with a top temperature of 9.4C and a top average wind speed of 14mph.

Wednesday was another dry, sunny and relatively calm day.

Calm, sunny weather at Maryport Marina yesterday (Thursday)

Yesterday (Thursday) it was dry, bright, sunny and calm with more cloud developing late afternoon. The top temperature was 9.7C (49.5F) and the top average wind speed at St Bees Head was 22mph, gusting 30mph, but it was nothing like that in Maryport.

We had heavy rain overnight and the weather today (Friday) has been cloudy and breezy with showers at times and heavy rain this evening. The top temperature was 11.6C (53F) and the top average wind speed at St Bees Head was 23mph, gusting 33mph, but again it was less windy than that here.