Trip to Chorley / Leyland 22-02-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
33178	Chorley TI	Towngate, Tesco (Stand F)	109	Stagecoach Lancashire
47326	Towngate, opp Job Centre	Chorley TI	109	Stagecoach Lancashire
15565	Chorley TI	Whittle-le-Woods, by Hardacre Lane	125	Stagecoach Lancashire
15839	Whittle-le-Woods, by Moss Lane	Chorley TI	125	Stagecoach Lancashire
15564	Chorley TI	Whittle-le-Woods, by Foxglove Drive	125	Stagecoach Lancashire
15565	Whittle-le-Woods, by Moss Lane	Chorley TI	125	Stagecoach Lancashire

Today we decided to re-visited Chorley. We didn't chose where we were going until Friday night as we were lookng at the weather forecasts to see where the weather would be best this weekend. It seemed to be that we could go almost anywhere except west so we ruled out Chester and Birkenhead. Having chosen to go to Chorley we looked at the stagecoach website to get a map of the Chorley area and also looked up the price of the local Mega Dayrider ticket (£4.40). The weather was set to be cloud but dry. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off just after 11:30 and we drove onto the A5035 before going onto Stanley Matthews Way. We then headed onto the West bound A50. We were passed by Silverdale MV12 ODY as we got onto the roundabout at Sideway before heading North on the A500. We did the A500 to Shelton new road where we stopped to take on LPG. We headed back onto the A500 via the Westbound A53. We got onto the Northbound M6 and the traffic was moving well we headed North over the Thelwall viaduct and North beyond the M62. We came off at junction 27 and we headed East towards Standish. We had looked up a few cafe's for something to eat when we reached Chorley, and we had seen there was a cafe on A6 as you came in to Chorley from the South. So we headed over to the A6 via the A5106. We didn't see the cafe on the way in, but as we entered the town we saw a sign for a chip shop cafe. We came around and parked on the Fleet Street car park and after I had checked out the parking and the location of the chippy we walked along Fleet Street to the corner of Pall Mall. Here lies the Big Lamp chippy which has a small dinning area to one side of the shop that seats around 20. Matthew visited their toilet and he had Chips, egg and sausage with a round of bread of butter washed down with a can of Coke. After we had finished eating we walked by to the car, and I photographed some interesting stencil art on the wall as I went. We drove around to the main car park in town which is adjacent to the the Transport Interchange. The car park was very busy so we stopped and said goodbye to mum whilst she parked up the car. There was a required Dart on layover in the Interchange in the form of Stagecoach 34620. We also saw another Dart coming around and we guessed correctly that it was probably on the #109 to Preston via Leyland. It pulled onto stand and we saw it was Required Stagecoach Lancashire 33178.

Stagecoach Lancashire 33178 in Chorley Interchange

There was a driver change so we had to wait for the bus to be readied for service. In the meantime Matthew photographed a required stagecoach 15581 on the adjacent stand.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15581 in Chorley Interchange

When the bus was ready we got on and purchased our Chorley Mega Dayrider tickets. The back of the bus was empty so Matthew took a picture of the inside of the bus at the rear step.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 33178

We sat down and the bus left town Westwards. We passed the big out of town Tesco store and the crossed over the railway line into Euxton. We turned right and we headed North through the village on the A49. At this point we passed required ALX300 bodied MAN Stegecoach Lancashire 22253. At a crossroads by a pub called The Bay Horse we turned right onto Euxton Lane. We headed East for a short while crossing back over the West coast main line and then we turned left to head into Buckshaw Village crossing over the line to Manchester via Bolton. Buckshaw Village is a large housing estate built on the grounds of and old ordinance factory. They seem to be really nice and unusual house set in unusual landscaping. It's not every day you can buy a house with its own moat! We then turned back West for the run into Leyland. Here we passed required Stagecoach Dart 34680 on a #109 to Chorley. We rolled into Leyland and we got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of 33178 before it carried on Northwards.

Stagecoach Lancashire 33178 in Leyland

Before we walked to the stop around the corner to look at the timetable. The buses run in an unusual pattern of being 20 and 40 minutes apart. We had just missed the 14:08 and the next bus back was 14:48! So we decided to go for a bit of a walk around town. On the opposite side of the road to where we got off, we saw Fishwicks 14 on the #111 Preston service.

Fishwicks 14 in Leyland

We walked along St Andrews Way around a large Tesco store and we saw Fishwicks 15 on a #111 service.

Fishwicks 15 in Leyland

We sat down and Matthew a Rice Crispies Square bar and a bottle of Cherryade. We decided to go into a local chip shop and replace the pop from the trip bag and we also brought a can of Coke. As we were going to go back Matthew spotted the toilet in an ice cream parlour! After using the toilet Matthew had a vanilla cone at £1.50. We walked back along St Andrews Way and back to the stop for the return service. Just as our bus was due we saw Fishwicks 5 on another #111 service.

Fishwicks 5 in Leyland

Right behind the Fishwicks bus was required Stagecoach 47326 on the #109 service.

Stagecoach Lancashire 47326 in Leyland

We got on the bus and booked to Chorley. With it being a Solo Matthew tried to beep the horn but we didn't let him.We sat down near the back of the bus and we headed out of town towards Buckshaw Village. On the way in we noticed the wicker man statue as we entered the village. We headed South and back through Euxton. We passed the big Tesco and we went into Chorley. When the bus emptied Matthew waited for the Solo to empty before getting a picture inside this bus.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 47326

There wasn't anything significant in when we got back so we had a walk around the Interchange taking pictures. We saw required Transdev Lancashire United 1101 on the #2 to Darwen. A couple of double deckers come in so we walked back into the interchange to catch one. The bus towards Bolton was dud Stagecoach 15573 and the bus towards Preston was required 15565.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15565 in Chorley Interchange

We got on Stagecoach 15565 and booked to Whittle-le-Woods and then we went upstairs. The bus was emptied in front of us, so Matthew took his picture straight away.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15565

The bus set off though town along the A581 before going onto the Northbound A6 by the out of town retail stores. We passed the hospital and crossed over the Preston to Bolton line before going into the village of Whittle-le-Woods. This is a place we had been before last time we came to Chorley back in June 2013. We decided to get off where we had gotten off last time. Just after the BP garage we got up and got off. Matthew then got another picture of Stagecoach Lancashire 15565.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15565 in Whittle-le-Woods

We walked back down to the BP garage and got some cash from the cash machine. We then visited the Spar shop where Matthew used the toilet and then we brought Chocolate & pop. After we had finished we headed back to the road and we were about to cross when we spotted a strange tri-axle minibus. It was Lancashire County Council welfare bus PO60 AYT.

Lancashire CC PO60 AYT in Whittle-le-Woods

We crossed the road and we had a picnic whilst we waited for the bus. Matthew had a can of Cherry Coke and a Milky Way. We didn't have to wait too long before required Stagecoach Lancashire 15839 appeared.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15839 in Whittle-le-Woods

We got on the bus and went upstairs. The journey back was swift and we got back into Chorley in no time. When we got back to Chorley Matthew took a picture of the lower saloon in Stagecoach Lancashire 15839.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15839

On the #109 was required Stagecoach Lancashire 47331 but we didn't fancy doing another Solo today! After visiting the toilet we had a walk around the outside of the Interchange and took a few more pictures. It wasn't long before another couple of double deckers arrived in the bus station. Required 15572 was on the #125 to Bolton and required 15564 was on the #125 to Preston. I was hoping to go south on 15572 but Matthew chose to go North again on 15564. Whilst we were waiting for 15564 to re readied for service, we saw Transdev Lancashire United 253 on the #2 to Darwen.

Transdev Lancashire United 253 in Chorley Interchange

We took a picture of Stagecoach 15564 before we got on it.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15564 in Chorley Interchange

We went upstairs and the bus was empty, so Matthew took a picture inside before we sat down.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15564

The bus set off through town and up to the A6 along the A581. We headed passed the hospital and over the railway before going into Whittle-le-Woods. We got off a stop earlier so we were closer to the bus stop for the return journey. When we got off we got another picture of Stagecoach Lancashire 15564.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15564 in Whittle-le-Woods

There seemed to be a small gap in the service, and whilst we waited Matthew drank a bottle of orangeade. The bus eventually turned up and it was dud Stagecoach Lancashire 15565 which we had done North earlier!

Stagecoach Lancashire 15565 in Whittle-le-Woods

We decided that this was going to be the last journey of the day. We headed back down the A6 and into town. When we got back Matthew waited for the bus to empty before getting a picture inside 15565 again.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15565

As we got off Matthew said hello to a couple of people and he went to the toilet. We then decided to have one last walk around the Interchange before going back to the car. We had noticed there was quite a variety of buses on the the Arriva run #362 service to Wigan. On this occasion we saw East Lancs Myllennium bodied DAF Arriva NW&W 2829.

Arriva NW&W 2829 in Chorley Interchange

Matthew also got a couple more pictures double deckers in the Interchange, ironically the best was of Stagecoach Lancashire 15565 again.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15565 in Chorley Interchange

We walked back to the car where we surprised mm as we hadn't called ahead to let her know we were coming. Matthew had his sausage roll washed down with a can of Irn Bru. He also had a copy of this months Buses magazine to read. Mum nipped to Iceland whilst we ate the sausage rolls and then we set off home. We set off out of town down the A6 hooping to go back the way we came but I followed direction for the A49 & Wigan and we ended up going through Wigan! We went around most of the town and we joined on the A49 just South of the town near Sainsburys. Here we saw Stagecoach Wigan 27817 on a Leigh bound #600 and Stagecoach 22351 on a Wigan bound #600 service. We carried on down the A49 and joined the M6 quite a few miles South of where we intended to. It was now dark and we plough through Cheshire making good time of the relatively clear Road. As we neared the A500 I saw a few coaches so I slowed down so that we could see them. The first coach to pass up was Global Travel FN02 VBV. On the A500 we were passed by two other coaches Happy days 214 & 223. These coaches must have been returning from Stoke City's away game at Manchester City. We carried on down to the A50 and to Longton to see what was parked up at Z Carz. There were 3 vehicles that were easily seen on the spare ground. First in the row was Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

Next to this was Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

Then there was Blackwoods liveried coach B12 FWS.

Z Carz B12 FWS in Longton

At the back were airport transfer minibus DL03 HHU and Volkswagon minibus OV05 WSW. We turned into willow Row and in the compound were Y569 DSF from the taxi fleet and long term SORN LDV minibus T408 JUX.

Z Carz Y569 DSF in Longton

We headed back onto the A50 and into Heron Cross. We then went through Blurton and we got home around 18:45. After sorting out the photographs we took today we had a let tea of bangers and mash with carrots followed by cake. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:30...Mark

Trip to Trent Vale 21-02-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
60015	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trent Vale, opp Chubb Way (Unmarked)	22	First Potteries

Today was the last weekday of the college holiday. For the last 3 week or so the #22 service had now turned into a mainly Scania worked service, with Darts and Solos becoming quite rare. I had been to work in the morning and I had driven to Fenton along Blurton Road and had seen First Potteries 40180 on the early #22A turn. Matthew got up around 09:30 this morning and had some toast and orange juice for breakfast. He used his computer and watched his telly for a few hours before having half an omelette for dinner. I viewed the #22 buses but there weren't any required buses out today. First Potteries 40180 was on the #22A turn and was going to be passing through Blurton around 15:15. First Potteries 60196 was going to be working the bus through Blurton around 15:30 and First Potteries 60015 was going to work the 16:00. The other bus on the #22 was dud First Potteries 60013. We decided to go out on Scania First Potteries 60015 because of the time. It was an OK day with regards to weather. We set off just after 15:50 and we decided to walk to the stop on Magdalen Road. Whilst we waited we saw First Potteries 60013 on the Longton bound #22.

First Potteries 60013 in Blurton

That was followed shortly after by D&G 174 on the Plumline.

D&G 174 in Blurton

We didn't have to wait for long before First Potteries 60015 appeared from around the corner.

First Potteries 60015 in Blurton

We got on the bus and booked to Trent Vale. We sat down near the back. The bus urned on along the A5035 and into Trentham and then onto New Inn Lane. We carried on to Hanford passing First Potteries 40373 on the #21 and dud First Potteries 60074 on the peak #22 turn. We carried on down to Trent vale and onto the A34 where we passed 40024 on the #21A. The bus was maybe 1/3 full but people were spread out in the bus. After a few people had got off the rear of the bus Matthew took a picture towards the back of the few seats that were empty there.

Inside First Potteries 60015

The bus then turned into Harpfields Road to head towards the hospital and we got off, Matthew getting another picture of First Potteries 60015 as the bus drove away.

First Potteries 60015 in Trent Vale

We walked back onto the A34 and along towards the pub. Mum texted us to let us know she had beaten us into the pub today and we walked straight in to meet her. Matthew had two sausages, egg, chips and beans with bacon and 2 rounds of bread. For after he had toffee sponge pudding and ice cream. When we had finished we went to pick up uncle Dave. We headed onto the A34 and then onto the Northbound A500. We then went east on the A50 to Heron Cross and down into Fenton. When we picked up uncle Dave we headed back to heron Cross where we saw a few buses. First Potteries 41540 and 40367 were on #23/23A's and we saw a visitor at the Lightning Travel house YN04 CUY. We got back home around 17:45 and Matthew spent the night on his computer, watching bus DVD's and watching telly. He went to bed around 00:00...Mark

Trip to Stanways Coaches / Copeland's Tours (UK bus Tours) 16-02-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
41070	Ladybank Grove (adj), Blurton	Stoke railway station	23A	First Potteries
F33 ENF	Stoke railway station	Stanways depot	Charter	Stanways
J70 SWC	Stanways depot	Stanways depot	Charter	Stanways
E930 EBC	Stanways depot	Linley Road	Charter	Stanways
BIG 7013	Linley Road	Stoke Railway Station	Charter	Stanways
MIB 116	Stoke railway station	Copeland's Tours depot	Charter	Copeland's Tours
MIB 270	Copeland's Tours depot	Copeland's Tours depot	Charter	Copeland's Tours
MIB 279	Copeland's Tours depot	Copeland's Tours depot	Charter	Copeland's Tours
MIB 104	Copeland's Tours depot	Copeland's Tours depot	Charter	Copeland's Tours
MIB 615	Copeland's Tours depot	Stoke railway station	Charter	Copeland's Tours

Today was the UK Bus Tours trip to Stanway's Coaches & Copeland's Tours. No real research was done for this trip. We checked the time of the bus to get us to Stoke railways station and we checked the weather for the day which was for sunny intervals. Matthew got up around 10:00 and he a bacon sandwich for breakfast washed down with orange juice. Just after 11:00 we set off to walk to the stop so we could catch the #23A from Ladybrook Grove. As we walked towards the stop we saw it was a Marshall bodied Dart. We thought it was required First Potteries 40173. As it got closer we saw it dud First Potteries 41070.

First Potteries 41070 in Blurton

We booked to the railway station and we sat down near the back. The last time we both had this bus together was in Chester back in April 2008! The bus set off and headed through Blurton & Heron Cross. We turned left at Heron Cross ans we went through Mount Pleasant and we headed into Stoke town centre. After going around the one way system we crossed the A500 and under the railway line before pulling up outside the railway station. Matthew then took another picture of First Potteries 41070 as it headed off towards Hanley

First Potteries 41070 by Stoke railway station

There were a few people hanging around outside the railway station who looked like likely candidates for the tour, as well as a few local familiar faces. We waited opposite the railway station on some steps so we could see up the road when the bus was approaching. The bus was due off at 12:00 and around 11:50 we saw uncle Dave walking up the road to come and meet us. We carried on waiting until just before 12:00 before we saw a Stanway's bus stopped at the lights by the sixth form college. As stated on some of the original e-mail promoting the trip, the bus was former Midland Red required Leyland Tiger F33 ENF. We crossed the road and we took a picture of the bus as it pulled up.

Stanways F33 ENF by Stoke railway station

A kind gentleman let Matthew on first, so he used the opportunity to get a picture inside this bus with its 3 + 2 seating arrangement.

Inside Stanways F33 ENF

We sat down near the back and the bus filled up with the people who had been waiting outside the railway station. We had a short wait, because a train was late and we were waiting for somebody off that train. Once the gentleman had arrived we set off around 12:10. The organiser came around and collected the fares, which in this case was £12.50 per adult. The bus went onto the A500 and then we headed North. It was a good quick journey and we overtook one or two Sunday drivers as we headed towards the A34. Once we reached Talke we headed North along the A34. At the other end of Talke we continued onto the A5011 and then onto the A50. Just North of the centre of Rode Heath we came across the depot on the right hand side of the road. The bus went into the depot and we all got off. The yard seemed to consist of 3 different areas. The was a yard that contained Stanways vehicles both running and stored. In this yard was former Manns JUI 4996.

Former Manns JUI 4996 in Rode Heath

There we a few stored buses susch as F33 ENF's sister F52 ENF which was still in Arriva colours with the fleet number 1772 still visible. The also have a couple of Mercedes minibus for services such as the FO #127 Chesterton - Crewe such as VAZ 4815.

Stanways VAZ 4815 in Rode Heath

There were two other distinct areas in the yard. The was a small yard that contained mainly cars and vans, with the exception of one coach. Plaxton Paramount bodied coach E186 XKO. There was a 3rd larger yard that contains preserved buses in various states of repair. There were buses that were runners such as N983 BHE and Berresfords liveried ORS 60R.

'Berresfords' ORS 60R in Rode Heath

Also there was preserved Bournemouth 170.

Bournemouth 170 in Rode Heath

This is a bus that we had done on 'The Potteries Connection' running day back in August last year. There was a little bit of shunting going on at the time and Bournemouth 170 was moved out and a few more of the buses behind could be seen and photographed. One such bus was this Mercedes minibus formerly with Riverside in Scotland, SF03 YXR.

Riverside SF03 YXR in Rode Heath

Back in Stanways main yard we took a picture of J70 SWC which was going to be the next bus that was taken out.

Stanways J70 SWC in Rode Heath

We got on the coach and sat down and the coach left the yard before heading South. The bus turned right somewhere and we did a clockwise circuit of the local lanes before retuning back to the depot around 10 minutes later.when we got back to the depot Matthew waited for the coach to empty and then he got a picture inside the coach, another vehicle with 3+2 seating.

Inside Stanways J70 SWC

After another few minutes in the yard, They drove Stanways E930 EBC out onto the forecourt so it could be photographed in the sun.

Stanways E930 EBC in Rode Heath

Whilst we were waiting for something to happen, Matthew sat down and had a flapjack. The organiser came around and told everyone if they wanted to ride on both E930 EBC and BIG 7013, we would have to travel down on E930 EBC. The gentleman who was shunting in the yard had kindly offered to drive E930 EBC down to a nearby layby, and then drive it back to the depot. Everyone who wanted to do the bus could then transfer onto BIG 7013 for the rest of the journey back to the railway station. We got on E930 EBC and sat down. We had last done this bus back in May 2009 when it first arrived in the Stanways fleet. We did the bus about a mile or so down the road and we pulled into a layby on the A5011. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside the bus.

Inside Stanways E930 EBC

We then took a picture of BIG 7013 before we jumped onto it.

Stanways BIG 7013 in Alsager

We sat down and the bus headed South onto the A34. The coach then got onto the Southbound A500 which we did to Stoke. We came off the A500 at City Road before going onto Leek Road and pulling up outside the railway station. We could see the Copelands coach waiting for us and we knew it was going to be a required one. It was one of the pair of Ex Tappins coaches that Copeland's had acquired from Leons of Stafford. We waited for the coach to empty and Matthew got a picture inside. Again it was another coach with 3+2 seating for schools work.

Inside Stanways BIG 7013

We got off and we saw it was required Copeland's Tours MIB 116. We quickly got a picture of it before we jumped on and sat down.

Copeland's Tours MIB 116 by Stoke railway station

The coach set off onto Stoke Road an we headed up through Shelton onto the ring road around Hanley. We then went down Victoria Road and though Fenton. We did the A50 link road onto the A50 and then we headed east on the A50 towards the Copeland's Tours depot where we stopped just outside. We waited for the coach to empty and Matthew got a picture inside MIB 116.

Inside Copeland's Tours MIB 116

We also got off and got another picture of this fine coach.

Copeland's Tours MIB 116 in Meir

As we had been here before there were only a few buses & coaches to photograph that we hadn't seen before. We visited the BP petrol station where matthew used the toilet before we brought some chocolate and a can of Coke. We headed into the depot where we got our first glimpse of Copelands new service bus for the #40 service. Copeland's Tours MIB 302 has been partially painted, but still has the white and orange from its time with Procters Coaches.

Copeland's Tours MIB 302 in Meir

Another former Procters coach is MIB 229. This registration was carried by another coach last time we visited the depot.

Copeland's Tours MIB 229 in Meir

At the back of the depot on the inspection ramp was this visiting coach L530 EHD.

L530 EHD in Meir

Also here was one that we hoped to travel on later. Required MIB 104.

Copeland's Tours MIB 104 in Meir

The next coach the organiser had chosen to travel on was unusually dud. It was Copeland's Tours MIB 270. We boarded the coach and we left the depot. The last time we had this coach was a trip to Blackpool back in October 2010. The coach headed Eastwards on the and went to the outskirts of Uttoxeter on a spirited run along the A50. By the JCB world parts centre we turned onto the A522 and we headed back towards Meir through Tean and along the Blythe Bridge bypass. We got back on the A50 which we did to the centre of Meir before turning back towards the depot. Once we were back inside the depot the coach emptied out and Matthew got a picture inside this beast.

Inside Copeland's Tours MIB 270

That long run out combined with the trip to Blackpool probably means we have done over 200 miles MIB 270 now. We then got another picture of MIB 270 before it was moved back into it's usual position in the depot.

Copeland's Tours MIB 270 in Meir

A few minutes later the driver announced that were going to do MIB 278 next. We actually did MIB 279 but it didn't matter to us as both were required coaches! We got a quick picture of the coach before we climbed aboard for the next run.

Copeland's Tours MIB 279 in Meir

The bus left the depot and we headed towards the roundabout at Catchems Corner. We turned around and went West to Meir before heading North on the A520. At Weston Coyney we turned left by Park Hall and we headed to Adderley Green. We then headed down to Longton along Anchor Road before we rejoined the A50 to head back to the depot. The coach emptied and Matthew got a picture inside MIB 279.

Inside Copeland's Tours MIB 279

With MIB 279 back in position they announced the next coach would be MIB 104...Yes!!!

Copeland's Tours MIB 104 in Meir

We boarded the coach and the the coach left the yard. Time was running out so we only had a short run on this coach. Having gone up to Catchems Corner we headed back onto the A50 by going around B&Q and the Co-op warehouse along Whittle Road. We headed to the centre of Meir before turning through 180' and heading back onto the Eastbound A50 and back to the depot. At least we got to ride on this coach. The coach emptied out and Matthew got a picture inside.

Inside Copeland's Tours MIB 104

He also got another picture of the outside of the coach in the low afternoon sun before it was shunted back into it's usual parking spot.

Copeland's Tours MIB 104 in Meir

They announced the last coach of the afternoon and it was MIB 615. required by me but dud for Matthew... He had done it to Chester Zoo back in July 2010. We got a picture before we boarded the coach.

Copeland's Tours MIB 615 in Meir

The coach left the depot for the final time and we did a 180' around the roundabout at Catchems Corner before heading West into Stoke on Trent. The coach came off the A50 at the link road and then we headed to the railway station via City Road and Leek Road.

Inside Copeland's Tours MIB 615

We all said goodbye after such an epic tour and we waited for the coach to empty so he could take a picture inside MIB 615.

Copeland's Tours MIB 615 by Stoke railway station

We then got one last picture of MIB 615 before it disappeared back to the depot. We crossed over the road to wait for mum to come pick us up. whilst we waited we saw Alton Towers Transport T743 JHE on a Hanley bound service. Mum appeared and we jumped into the car. We drove along Leek road and into Fenton to drop uncle Dave off at home. As we had a busy evenings Blogging we decided to call in the chip shop on Smithpool Road to pick up some food. We headed back into Heron Cross and into Blurton passing 41500 on the #23 service. We got home around 17:00 and Matthew ate his sausage, chips and gravy. We then spent the evening Blogging and Matthew had a bath before going to bed around 23:30...Mark