Trip to Fenton / Trent Vale 01-08-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
41520	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trent Vale, opp Chubb Way (Unmarked)	22	First Potteries

Today we decided to go to Trent Vale on the bus. Not before Matthew had been out for the day with his new day service. Matthew got up around 07:45 and had some toast and orange juice and used his computer whilst he waited to be picked up. He was picked up a little before 09:00 and the drove him through Blurton via Finstock Avenue passing First Potteries 53207 on the #23 on Beaconsfield Drive. At Heron Cross lights we went straight over and the turned right onto Christchurch Street and then to his destination. In Fenton we saw Shelton Care DX53 VCA on a to Freeport Talke.

Shelton Care Group DX53 VCA in Fenton

we spent the morning in the sensory room and using a computer. For dinner Matthew had sausage chips and gravy. We walked to the local pub and spent the afternoon looking at buses go past. Highlight were seeing Wardle Transport 2249 & 3615 on the X51 service. Running empty was Wardle Transport 2265. On the #1 were First Potteries 60075/081/174 & 175. Seen on the #23 were First Potteries 53207/208 & 209. Seen on the #40 was Copeland's tours MIB 302. At home time we took Matthew onto Christchurch Street and through Heron Cross and along Blurton Road and Beaconsfield Road, getting home around 15:00. At home Matthew had toast and some dandelion & burdock. Around 16:30 we walked all the way to the bus stop on Magdalen Road. Having seen all eight #22's today, we knew the bus was going to be required First Potteries 41520, a recent transfer from Adderley Green to Newcastle depot. As the bus turned the corner we could see it had a small front numbers and was as expected First Potteries 41520.

First Potteries 41520 in Blurton

We got on the bus and booked to Harpfields Road. We sat down towards the back of the bus and we set off onto the A5035. The bus was quite full and was filling up even more so Matthew to a picture of the empty seat opposite before it was filled.

Inside First Potteries 41520

We carried on past the Trentham Hotel and we saw First Potteries 40173 on a #21A to Hanley & 43875 on a Dresden bound #22. We turned onto New Inn Lane and we saw First Potteries 41522 on a Hanley bound #21. Opposite the man in space we saw First Potteries 41499 on a Trentham Gardens bound #21B service. We carried on through Trentham and into Hanford before dropping down onto the A34. We crossed under the A500 and as we passed the Black Lion we saw First Potteries 41496 on a Trentham bound #21A. We turned onto Harpfield Road and we got up and got off the bus.

First Potteries 41520 in Trent Vale

We walked back onto the A34 to walk to the pub. On the way we saw First Potteries 65041 on a Stafford bound #101.

First Potteries 65041 in Trent Vale

We waited for a few minutes for mum to arrive and we went into the pub where Matthew had a brunch with bread and butter followed by toffee sponge pudding with ice cream. Whilst we ate highlights of the passing buses included Leons Coaches 211, Parks of Hamilton's national Express liveried coach HSK 644, Glovers coaches AIG 8900 and Clynnog & Trefor YX14 SHZ. Another rarity was classic Scania 60059 on the #101 to Stafford. After we had finished eating we called Uncle Dave and we went to pick him up. We drove along the A34 and onto the Northbound A500 going East at the A50. We came off the A50 at Heron Cross and we dropped into Fenton to pick up uncle Dave. We set off back through Heron Cross and through Blurton getting home at around 18:30. Matthew then chilled out watching 'On the Yorkshire Buses' and bus videos on his computer. He then chilled out until bedtime around 00:00...Mark