Life onboard under Covid-19 restrictions and our heater breaks down

Phil working on Ravensdale's broken down Webasto heater

The current situation due to the Covid-19 pandemic is just so weird and I’m still not sure if going through lockdown on a boat is any different to being told to stay at home in a house.

Our 43ft motor cruiser Ravensdale is certainly a more confined space than most houses and having a garden must make staying home a lot more bearable, but many land-dwellers don’t have the luxury of a garden either.

However, I think we can count ourselves lucky as we’re so much better off than people who are confined to high rise flats, with nowhere to go except their trips out for essential supplies or their daily exercise.

At least we can get out around the marina so I guess I shouldn’t really complain, and we have some lovely pathways around us here in Maryport, Cumbria, UK, for our daily walks 😊

But one thing we could really have done without was our diesel heater breaking down last month on one of the coldest nights we'd had in a long time.

Almost six weeks in lockdown

Ravensdale on a beautiful, calm, sunny day at Maryport Marina in Cumbria, UK

It will be six weeks ago on Tuesday (May 5) since the partial lockdown was imposed in the UK to slow down the spread of the deadly Covid-19 virus.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced it on the evening of Monday, March 23, with effect from the following morning.

Mr Johnson has since been treated in hospital for the virus before recovering at home and returning to work last week.

Our life at the marina continues much the same as usual except for not being able to go out when we want – either on the boat or on foot/by car.

We’re still taking our daily walks separately. Phil usually takes Ruby out in the morning and I take my exercise in the afternoon.

I like to wait until later in the day, so I have something to look forward to. I’m pretty sure I’d go stir crazy if I went out in the morning as, when I came home, I would know I couldn’t go out again until the following day.

I also think it’s good to go separately so that we both get a bit of time alone as being locked up on a boat together could otherwise be pretty claustrophobic.

Police checking on a vehicle parked on the road alongside the marina

It seems strange to see police stopping people in cars on the road that runs alongside the marina to the lighthouse and asking them what they're doing but it's good that they are keeping a close watch to ensure people are adhering to the restrictions.

It’s also strange that we’re being encouraged not to use cash in shops anymore. Who would’ve ever thought it? And, to discourage people from using notes and coins, contactless card payments have gone up from £30-£45.

I reckon shopping is the weirdest experience of the lot starting with queuing two metres (6ft 6ins) apart outside the store and only being allowed in on a "one out, one in" basis.

Shoppers queuing 2m apart outside the Lidl store in Maryport, Cumbria, UK

I always wear disposable gloves to shop, putting them on before I get a shopping trolley and removing them when it has been returned. I've only seen a few people wearing masks so far.

Moving around the supermarket isn’t easy as you’re constantly trying to be aware of where everyone else is so you can ensure you don’t get too close to anyone.

Most people are happy to observe the 2m social distancing rule, but a few just don’t seem to care and pass close by before you’re even aware that they’re there, which is really annoying.

It’s also odd to see the queue for the checkouts stretching to the far end of the store and it’s a fairly big supermarket.

The length of the queue is due to the 2m spacing between customers and when you get to the front of the queue the checkout operators, who are behind plastic screens, shout for the next customer to be served.

I have to confess that I’m beginning to struggle a bit with the restrictions.

I totally understand why they must remain in place and I observe them to the letter as I really don’t want to get the virus or to be the cause of anyone else getting it.

However, being stuck in a confined space for so many hours of the day is beginning to make me understand how wild animals feel when they’re caged up in zoos ☹  

The good news for me is that tomorrow (Monday) I'm going back to work at Chimney Sheep - the factory I was working at before the lockdown - so my life will be a lot more normal than it has been over the past six weeks 😊

Running Ravensdale's engines

Ravensdale's engine room

We've been unable to take Ravensdale out on the water since March 22 - the day before the partial lockdown was announced.

As she hadn't been out of the marina for six week, we decided we should run up her two 300hp Volvo Penta engines to keep them running properly.

They were run under load for about 15 minutes yesterday morning (Saturday) and they seemed to be just fine. They sounded sweet, the temperature rose evenly on both engines and there was very little smoke.

This is something that we will be doing on a regular basis until we can move her again.


Our heater breaks down

Phil removing one of the fuses from the heater to check it

The heater packed up on the evening of Tuesday, April 14, which was one of the coldest nights we’d had in a good while.

The heat didn’t come up when I turned the heater on.

I went to turn it up a bit more and noticed that the green light that’s constantly illuminated when it’s switched on was flashing and we were both pretty sure that was what happened last time the filter needed changing.

Phil went down into the engine room to check the fuses, but they seemed OK.

Thankfully, I had ordered a service kit a couple of months previously so it would be here ready to service the heater when the weather warmed up, but it seems the heater wasn’t willing to wait that long.

It was getting late for starting on servicing the heater, so Phil said we’d just have to live without it for one night and he’d get on with it the following day.

I put on a body warmer that I wouldn’t usually wear indoors and dug out a fan heater, which took the chill off a bit during the evening. The electric blanket and dehumidifier warmed our cabin up a bit too.

I was more worried about poor Ruby sleeping in the saloon without any heating.

I was pleased to discover that, although she felt a little bit cooler than usual in the morning, her ears weren’t really cold, which is always a good indication of her temperature.

I checked the thermometer in the dinette, and it was reading 10.5C (51F) so cooler than it would normally be but still bearable.

Ravensdale's Webasto fitted to the side of the hull alongside her port engine

Phil looked out the servicing kit and set about the task of removing the Webasto Air Top Evo 55 heater.

He’s changed a filter on this heater before but not done a full service, so it was a bit of a steep learning curve.

I photographed the heater from various angles before he took it apart in case he needed the images to help with reassembly.

The dirty glow plug that came out of our heater

Phil dismantling the heater

When he removed the glow plug, it was obvious that it could’ve done with changing sooner so we were hoping that was what had caused the heater to stop working.

Sadly, despite his best efforts and attempts to reset the heater by following the advice of a more knowledgeable friend, it still refused to work so we had to send it away for repair.

We tried to get by with the small fan heater, but it wasn’t really making much of an impact on the temperature on the boat.

Thankfully, the weather warmed up a bit after the first couple of pretty cold nights when the temperature went down to 9.5C (49F) in the saloon – or at least that’s what it was reading when we got up in the morning. It was probably lower during the night.

We also went to our storage container to collect two electric heaters and we’re managing to keep warm until the heater returns.

We've just heard that the heater needs a new fan. The part has been ordered so hopefully it can be repaired and will be back with us soon.


"New to us" plotter

The new plotter showing our position at Maryport Marina in Cumbria, UK

Just before the lockdown, we were offered a secondhand Simrad plotter that is a newer version of the one fitted in the console on Ravensdale.

The original plotter was black and white and had no card in it. We'd intended replacing the card but never got around to it so we only really used it as an extra check on our speed and location as the GPS was still working.

For navigation, we use Navionics on two tablets and a separate, smaller, Standard Horizon plotter, with charts and compass for back up if the electronics fail.

Phil testing the new plotter while fitting it

Phil has now fitted the replacement plotter and it's a vast improvement on the previous one.

For a start, the display is in colour and it has a much clearer screen. It also has an electronic card in it which means we'll be able to use it for navigational purposes as well.


Generator

Phil checking the generator

Soon after the partial lockdown was imposed, Phil decided to check the generator just in case we lose our electricity supply.

This is something that’s done fairly regularly anyway, but it just seemed to be a sensible precaution in case something goes wrong with the supply and there’s no one around to fix it.



My birthday and our cancelled holiday

Me with my birthday flowers

I celebrated my birthday on Tuesday, April 21, but it definitely wasn’t the birthday I'd had planned.

We lived in the Highlands for 16 years before we sold our house to buy a boat and it’s still one of my favourite places so I’m keen to return whenever I get the chance.

For this reason, I said it was where I wanted to celebrate my birthday and we booked a lovely remote cottage in Sutherland for a birthday break.

However, Covid-19 put paid to our plans ☹

The partial lockdown meant the holiday had to be cancelled so I’m hoping to be able to rebook when the restrictions are lifted.


Varnishing our new drawers

The new drawers in the saloon after they had been varnished

Phil has finished varnishing the new drawers we had built above the cupboards in the saloon to provide additional storage space and to stop Ruby pulling things off the shelf along the top of the cupboard.

They are looking a lot better now and blend in a bit better with the other woodwork although they're a bit darker than the original cupboards.

I'm hoping they might fade a bit and match in better still when the sun has been on them for a while.

The drawers are proving very useful too as any extra storage space is always very welcome.


Ruby of Ravensdale

Ruby waiting while I was taking photos

Ruby’s life hasn’t changed all that much since the partial lockdown.

Me walking Ruby on the shore

She still gets two good walks a day and spends most of her time on the boat either sleeping on her bed, sunbathing, sitting out on deck keeping a lookout for us or trying to cuddle up to one of us.

Ruby relaxing on her bed in the saloon

She's also been enjoying the treats I bought her to see her through the lockdown.

The problem is that she's already had everything I got for her so I'll have to pick up something else next time I go to buy her food.

Ruby with her new buffalo horn

Photography

Looking through a sculpture towards Maryport

One of the positives about the current situation is that I’ve been able to go out with my camera every day.

Fleming Square, Maryport

Crow Park, Maryport

Pathway through Crow Park

Another view of Crow Park

I take it with me when I walk Ruby and sometimes, if Ruby has already had a good walk with Phil, I go without her, which makes taking photos so much easier.

View across the rooftops to Maryport Lighthouse and the Solway Firth

Maryport and the River Ellen from Mote Hill

Looking out over Maryport Basin to the Solway Firth

Looking across the Solway Firth to the Scottish hills

Another view across the Solway Firth to Scotland

I have taken so many photos in and around Maryport over the past four weeks that I’m struggling to find new photos to take, but I don’t let that stop me snapping away.

A Maryport walkway known as Pigeon Well

Looking across to a field of rapeseed from a footpath known as Fat Lonning

The remains of Peel Tower, Senhouse Mansion, Maryport

The scenes change with the season, weather, tides and light so there’s always a chance I’ll get a better photo of a view I’ve photographed many times before.

Maryport Harbour

Fishing boats in the harbour with Christ Church, Maryport, in the background

A wider view of Maryport Harbour

Sun breaking through heavy clouds over the Solway Firth

Looking out across Maryport Basin to the Solway Firth

Maryport Promenade at high tide

Shadows cast by the railings at the top of Market Steps, Maryport

Looking out over the Solway Firth from the sea brows at Maryport

Looking along the promenade towards Maryport

Sunset over Mayport Marina

And I’m working hard on looking for anything new to photograph or trying to take familiar views from a different angle.

Looking in the opposite direction through the same sculpture - to the Scottish hills

I was also pleased to get some photos of local fishing boat, Silver Stream, landing its catch of whelks at the harbour on Tuesday, March 31.

Silver Stream landing its catch of whelks at Maryport Harbour

A closer view of the whelks being unloaded

I also got a few photos of Silver Stream coming home from a fishing trip on April 17.

Silver Stream returning from another fishing trip

Silver Stream in Maryport Basin

Weather watch

Calm, sunny weather at Maryport Marina

It’s so frustrating that we’ve had more sunny, calm weather since the partial lockdown than we’d seen for months beforehand.

If this had happened at any other time, we would probably have considered a trip over to Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway but, for very good reasons, we’re not allowed to take the boat out on the water at the moment.

Me wearing shorts for the first time this year

Saturday, April 11 was the first day I considered it warm enough to put on my shorts this year and I've worn shorts almost every day since then 😊

Our first big adventure on Ravensdale - taking our boat away on holiday for the first time

Ravensdale returning home from Scotland

One of the reasons we decided to sell our house and buy a boat was so we could take her on holiday with us.

Since we moved on board our Neptunus 133 cruiser, Ravensdale, in November 2016, we'd only taken her out fishing on the Solway Firth and for little cruises on the firth.

But, this week, we decided to go further afield for the first time.

Our home port is Maryport in Cumbria on the English side of the Solway Firth and our first proper trip was to Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway, which is 26 miles away from here, up the River Dee on the Scottish side of the firth.

Ravensdale at Kirkcudbright

And we're now planning to go further afield for a longer holiday next spring - possibly up the west coast of Scotland.

Planning our first mini-break on Ravensdale

While watching the weather to check for the next chance to take Ravensdale out fishing on the Solway Firth, I noticed that the forecast was for calm conditions from Tuesday to Friday of this week.

It's unusual for us to get such a long calm period, so I suggested it might be worth trying to get away for a few days.

Pilot books for the Solway Firth

Phil thought it a good idea and we started looking at the possibility of going to Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

We spoke to other berth holders here who've visited the marina in Kirkcudbright to pick up any tips on going there.

And we started studying the charts and the pilot guides for that area.

Map showing Little Ross Island and the channel up the river to Kirkcudbright

We were really hoping the forecast didn’t change for the worse forcing us to cancel our plans.

On Monday, we called the Scottish marina to check they would have room for us to be told it should be fine. We agreed to call and let them know if and when we were definitely on our way.

We also contacted the skipper of Range Vessel Gallovidian to check on firing times on the firing range in the Solway Firth that we needed to cross to reach Kirkcudbright and were told there would be no firing this week.

Phil topped up our water tanks and we took Ravensdale over to the fuel pontoon to fill up with diesel.

Maryport Marina fuel pontoon

We also went food shopping, just in case we ended up spending time at anchor.

The final decision on whether to go was left until we got up at 6am on Tuesday morning and the day was everything the weather forecasters had promised so we decided to set off on our first big adventure.

Taking our “house” on holiday for the first time

It was so exciting going away on our boat for the first time even if we weren’t going very far or for very long.

Although, I must confess to having been a tiny bit apprehensive the night before we set off.

I had every faith in Ravensdale and her skipper but couldn’t help feeling it would be strange being further from land than we’d ever been before during the 26-nautical mile journey from Maryport to Kirkcudbright.

It was fairly calm when we set off just before 8am on Tuesday morning.

Ravensdale heading off to Scotland in the sunshine

The average wind speed recorded at nearby St Bees Head for the time we left was 14mph, but it seemed considerably less here.

The top wind speed for Maryport while we were out was 16mph and, for Kirkcudbright, the top average wind speed was 9mph at 3pm.

We had a pretty bumpy ride until we reached the Robin Rigg Wind Farm, which is about halfway across the Solway Firth. The second half of the journey was much smoother.

We averaged 9.5 to10 knots, arriving at Little Ross Island at 10.25am.

Approaching Little Ross Island off the coast of Scotland

We dropped Ravensdale’s anchor to wait for the tide to be high enough for us to head up the river towards Kirkcudbright.

It was really calm and sunny when we first arrived and became a bit cloudier during the afternoon.

We watched porpoises in the bay, but I was unable to get a photograph of them.

Phil fishing near Little Ross Island

Phil tried to do a spot of fishing, but the only fish he caught were dogfish. Sadly, the only decent fish he hooked – a good-sized huss – managed to get away.

While we were anchored off the island, we called the marina to confirm they had room for us.

They said they’d get a boat to move up to make room and we confirmed we would be arriving around high tide.

We had our lunch on Ravensdale’s foredeck in the sunshine and put the generator on for a while to keep the freezer cold, so I took the opportunity to use the coffee maker to make us a cappuccino.

Soon after lunch, a fairly large yacht moored up to a buoy close to the island.

The yacht that arrived while we were anchored off Little Ross Island

As we knew there was only one available mooring in the marina, I called to check the other yacht wouldn’t be able to take the space they had cleared for us but was told that if they got in first they would get it.

It was suggested that, as we were the bigger boat, they could raft up on us (tie up alongside us).

However, I pointed out that our boat would be very difficult for anyone to climb over to get ashore from a yacht.

Thankfully, having seen our boat, the yacht owner thought the same and told the marina that, as we were there first, they would go elsewhere, which we thought was pretty decent of him.

A fishing boat that passed us while we were fishing

We moved to the other side of the bay at about 3.30pm, partly because the fishing was so bad by the island and partly to get closer to the buoyed channel up the river.

We set off up the river shortly before high tide, arriving at the marina at around 6.45pm.

Travelling up the River Dee to Kirkcudbright

Fish House on the River Dee

Kirkcudbright in the evening sunshine

Mooring up was more difficult than we’d expected due to the tide and we were very grateful to three local fishermen who just happened to be walking along the pontoon at the time.

They caught our ropes and helped to bring us into the space that had been created for us between two other boats.

They also gave us some mackerel fillets and some pollock.

We secured the boat and got a bit sorted then went into town to get some fish and chips.

Sunset at Kirkcudbright Marina

We knew there was no Wi-Fi at the marina, but there was also no TV signal, so we watched some of the programmes that we just happened to have pre-recorded.

Me and Ravensdale at Kirkcudbright Marina

We slept really well, and, on Wednesday morning, we set off to explore Kirkcudbright on the banks of the River Dee, which is the only town on Scotland’s Solway coast with a working harbour.

Unsurprisingly, the area, which is known as “The Artists’ Town” because it was a magnet for Scottish artists in the late 19^th century, has a number of art galleries.

The picturesque town boasts a ruined 16^th century tower house near the harbourside, called MacLellan’s Castle and some very impressive churches.

MacLellan's Castle at Kirkcudbright

The main street through Kirkcudbright

Another view of Kirkcudbright

Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway

Kirkcudbright Parish Church

Another view of Kirkcudbright Parish Church

View of Kirkcudbright Marina from the harbour

A fishing boat leaving Kirkcudbright Harbour

There is also a good selection of small shops and eating places.

In fact, I ate way more than I should’ve done so the diet started again today (Friday) 😊

On Wednesday afternoon, we took a walk up the River Dee to Tongland Bridge that was built by Scotland’s greatest engineer Thomas Telford in 1806.

An old boat alongside the River Dee

The path out of Kirkcudbright along the River Dee

The River Dee at low tide

Me on Tongland Bridge

Phil on the River Dee walk

We originally intended to stay until today (Friday), but the weather forecast changed giving higher wind speeds than we would’ve been happy to set off in, so we decided to come back to Maryport yesterday (Thursday).

Kirkcudbright sunrise

Early morning reflections in the River Dee at Kirkcudbright

We set off at around 7am, two hours before high water, as that meant we could get back to Maryport on the same tide, arriving back here before the gate was due to close at around 11.30am.

Ravensdale leaving Kirkcudbright on our way home

The trip back was considerably quieter than the journey there, so we were pleased we decided to come back when we did.

We saw Maryport fishing boat Winsome on the Scottish side of Robin Rigg Wind Farm.

Winsome by Robin Rigg Wind Farm

I messaged Tom, who owns the boat, and he said he was glad it was us as, from a distance, he’d thought Ravensdale was the fisheries vessel.

It was good to know Ravensdale looks so scary 😊

Robin Rigg Wind Farm taken from a lot closer than we  usually get to it

The deepest water we encountered during the trip was 22.6 metres (74 feet).

Ravensdale's depth sounder showing 21.2m, which is the depth beneath her keel

As we’d been moored up starboard side to in Kirkcudbright, I needed to swap the ropes and fenders over to the port side for our return to our home marina, so Phil slowed right down as we were approaching Maryport to give me a chance to get them sorted.

We’d hoped to get an extra night but didn’t mind too much coming home a day early.

And we got back to our marina at about 10am after just over three hours at sea.

Ravensdale coming into Maryport Basin on our way home

We really enjoyed our mini break and it has given us more confidence to undertake a longer trip in the future.

And, as soon as we’d moored up Ravensdale in Maryport Marina, the local swan family came to visit in search of food, which was a lovely welcome home.

The swan family waiting for their first feed after our return

One really good thing about taking our home away on holiday with us is that we didn't have to do any packing or unpacking and there was no way we could forget to take anything we wanted or needed as we had everything with us 😊


Changing Ravensdale’s electricity plug

Phil ordered a new socket for the boat and a new plug for the end of the power lead from the electricity bollard on the pontoon to Ravensdale.

They arrived early on Monday morning and Phil planned to fit them straight away ready for our trip to Kirkcudbright.

Unfortunately, although they were ordered together, the plug was too big for the socket.

However, the one Reg, the marina foreman, had fitted for us the night we blew the power to the pontoons was a perfect fit so we’re waiting to hear how much we owe the marina to keep that one.

Ravensdale's new plug and socket

Phil had to make a larger hole for the socket box to fit into as we were unable to get an exact fit and the new one is wider than the old one.

He would normally have waited for good weather to do an outside job but needed to get it done before we set off for Kirkcudbright so he had to work in the rain.

Our shore power lead was very long – too long – and our generator lead was too short, so Phil cut a length of the shore lead and used it to make a longer lead for the generator.

Testing our outboard

We’d been meaning to blow up our dinghy and try our outboard motor to make sure it was still working for some time as we realised it hadn’t been started for about a year.

However, before we got around to doing this, we discovered that the marina had a large plastic drum fitted with a board for testing outboards.

We asked Reg, the marina foreman, if we could borrow it to save us having to get our dinghy out and he told us where to find it.

Phil testing our outboard motor

We took the empty drum through to the hard-standing and filled it with water.

Phil then filled our motor up with petrol before carrying it up to the drum to test it and we were delighted when it went on the second pull of the starting chord.

It then ran without a problem until Phil switched it off again.

So at least we know that, if we need to use it on our dinghy, it should work OK.

Thornback ray

The thornback ray we ate this week

At long last, we actually got to eat one of the fishes caught on our fishing trips this summer.

We ate a couple of cod caught last winter and, a few months back, Phil filleted a smooth-hound for us to eat, but sadly we forgot it was in the fridge until it was past its best, so it went in the prawn pot as crab bait.

We kept a thornback ray (AKA skate) from last week’s fishing trip.

Phil filleted it as soon as we got back, and we ate it the following day.

He pan-fried it in oil and it was delicious, so we will definitely be keeping any we catch in the future.

Creaking ropes

Phil washing our mooring ropes

Washing the ropes in fabric softener seems to have worked as they are much quieter than before we took them up to the marina launderette to wash them.

We’re hoping that they really are creaking less, but we’re well aware that the noise reduction could be due to the ropes being tied differently.

Or it could be because we haven’t had wind from the direction that was causing so much creaking before the ropes were washed and softened.

Time will tell, but, so far, it’s looking like it has been successful.

Weather watch

The week started grey and damp but the weather improved from Tuesday onwards.

Soggy Saturday at Maryport Marina

Saturday started grey and fairly calm, but the wind increased as the day went on. There was a short shower around lunchtime then light rain during the early evening.

The highest temperature recorded locally was 14.9C (59F) and the top average wind speed was 17mph.

Sunday was mainly overcast and dry with drizzle and light rain at times.

Grey Sunday at Maryport Marina

It was fairly windy and became cooler during the morning from 16.7C (62F) at 7am to 15.8C (60F) by 11am. The top daytime temperature was 15.9C (60.5F) and the average wind speed peaked at 18mph.

It was warm overnight with a temperature of 15.9C (60.5F) at 1am.

Monday started grey and damp with light rain from first thing until mid-afternoon. It was fairly calm during the morning with the wind increasing during the day.

The temperature dropped during the morning to 10.5C (51F) at 10am. The highest temperature during the day was 13.7C (57F) and the top average wind speed was 17mph.

It was dry, bright and calm first thing on Tuesday and we left Maryport to set off Kirkcudbright in bright sunshine.

Maryport Marina in the sunshine on Tuesday morning

The day continued sunny with a little more cloud in the afternoon.

The top average wind speed for Maryport while we were out on the water was 16mph and the top temperature was 15.7C (60F). The highest average wind speed at Kirkcudbright on Tuesday was 9mph at 3pm when the temperature peaked at 15.9C (60.5F).

A sunny day in Kirkcudbright on Wednesday

There was a calm, sunny start to the day in Kirkcudbright on Wednesday. It remained sunny throughout the morning, with cloud increasing from 2pm. The temperature reached 16C (61F) and the top average wind speed was 11mph.

We were up bright and early yesterday (Thursday) morning and there was mist on the River Dee in Kirkcudbright at sunrise.

Mist on the River Dee at sunrise on  Thursday morning

It was calm and sunny when we left the marina and headed down the river to Little Ross Island, where we left Scotland to cross the Solway Firth.

The cloud increased as we crossed the firth. It was bright and dry when we arrived in Maryport, but there was a bit of light rain early afternoon followed by clouds and sunny intervals.

The top average wind speed in Kirkcudbright, while we were travelling, was 8-10mph and, for Maryport, it was 8mph.

The highest daytime temperature in Maryport was 15.6C (60F) and the average wind speed reached 17mph. 

Clouds and sunny intervals at Maryport Marina today (Friday)

And, so far, today (Friday) the weather has been a mixture of clouds and sunny intervals with a light rain shower early afternoon.

The temperature has reached a high of 15.2C (59F) and the top average wind speed was 24mph, gusting 32mph at 9am this morning so we were very glad we decided to travel home yesterday.