Gosh its Christmas

Just really want to thank anyone who is following this random effort of a blog, I hope you all have a lovely and cosy time this Christmas and a jolly good New Year.

And here she was and I remember it well. Yes it was very warm and cosy on Wild Rose in the winter despite the ice on the canal. It was a delight to see the Canada Geese and resident swans tapping on the windows whilst walking past on the ice hoping to be fed, and they always were.....Jims motto >>> if it moves, feed it ... ha

We even went to the pub at Old Hill on the Sunday..It was a beautiful sunny crisp day. I hung on at the front with the pole breaking the ice as we chugged through, the pub had a roaring fire and the beer tasted good. The canal had frozen over by the time we left the pub and so it had to be done all the way back to Bumble Hole. Still Sunday dinner was ready to dish out when we moored up and what a good day that was.

Wild Rose Revealed

In the sunshine its not so bad ! ! at least I will have a clean sweep and start from scratch, or rather have a mop n bilge and start with an anglegrinding ha ha.

Am beginning to remember lots of discussions about possible layouts. Its a very small space, but I do like a challenge...good job too.

Faded but proud !

I am being very good and wearing safety glasses, proper H & S of course.

Where's the angle grinder ???

Rust removal is the first job on the roof. Where did I leave the safety glasses ?????

The tarpaulin has had it and is coming off as soon as a replacement can be uncovered.

But despite all the gunge and rust she is still sound.

And on a lovely sunny day, tarpaulin rolled off and much work revealed but she looks real happy.

Ah what memories ... more travels coming up soon

Getting Down & Dirty

Wots down here then ! ! or rather wots not ? .......

the engine for one thing, and if its to go back this has to be done !

this is yukky stuff and ah the smell of diesel......

This is a bit grim .... but not phased at all, its a good chance to redesigne the interior from scratch and hoping I can afford some mod cons ! !

The flash wasnt on ! and you cant see the 4" of water throughout, but can just make out the battery perched above the water with bilge pump clamped to it....

Three days in and I am still moping out the bilges ! the rust is coming off a treat ! ! and pleased to note that there aint any holes in the bottom.... phew!

I think she needs a new fuel tank ! !

Will have some interiors tomorrow, am hoping to pull back the tarpaulin and let in the light.

Travels with Rosie & Jim

Under the motorway, either the M5 or M6, I will have to investigate and update when I find out.
Here we stayed overnight at the Black Country Museum .... no charge and a free pint in the pub ...... how good is that eh ha.

The Main Man

My Jim .... my hero.... the man who put the Jim into Rosie & Jim ...... .
Here he is dressed in style for a gathering of narrowboats at Titford Pools.
Wild Rose is the blue one on the right .. ooops left.....

In the late 80's and early 90's I remember the water level fluctuated considerably and many times when we were out, the level was some 12 or more inches lower than it appears to be now. Anyway Wild Rose, having a very shallow draft, was often able to get to and from places that others with deeper drafts couldn't. Titford pools was one of these times, as Wild Rose and a couple of unladen working boats were the only ones able to get out easily. As its the highest point on the midlands canal system (well thats what I wuz told!) it did seem a bit daft to encourage loads of boats up through the locks when levels were already low !.

This I think is on our way back from Birmingham to Netherton. We often stayed near to Gas Street Basin for New Year, that was when Brindley Place was being developed and all the high cranes had Xmas decs and xmas trees all covered with coloured lights. Pity no pics as it was quite a delight high in the sky. I could put a roast dinner in the cooker when leaving Brum and be doing the gravy coming through the Netherton Tunnel, with yummy nosh all ready on mooring up at Bumble Hole. Blooming marvelous.

I have now worked out how to get my non digital pics on to the site, so more of these to come.

phut phut and away she goes ...

well here it is, the first sounds of the engine.........

and she kept on going........

how good is that eh!!!

A Bit at a Time eh!

well here we go ......at first proper inspection she appears to have weathered well, its probably 15 years since her last coat of paint !

Not sure how effective this wire brush will be though harumph harumph ha ! !

however from first efforts, I think she will brush up a treat ...

next bit next time eh