Trip to Fenton / Longton 09-02-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
DV10 JCU	Blurton	Fenton	Charter	Shelton Care Group
DV10 JCU	Fenton	Haywood Hospital	Charter	Shelton Care Group
DV10 JCU	Haywood Hospital	Fenton	Charter	Shelton Care Group
DV10 JCU	Fenton	Longton	Charter	Shelton Care Group
DV10 JCU	Longton	Fenton	Charter	Shelton Care Group
DX53 VCA	Fenton	Benitlee	Charter	Shelton Care Group

Today Matthew went into respite but not before he spent the day with his day service. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast and juice for breakfast. The bus turned up and it was his usual transport, Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU.

Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU in Blurton

We got on the bus and it picked up another service user before going onto the A5035. We then turned left into Church Road. We went through Blurton and into Heron Cross. We carried onto Heron Street and then turned left onto Christchurch Street before getting to the destination. This morning Matthew had an appointment at the Haywood Hospital in relation to his feet. He went in his usual minibus Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU. The bus set off and went to High lane via Victoria Road and the Hanley ring Road before travelling through Sneyd Green and Smallthorne. Matthew had his feet checked and then they went back to Fenton in the minibus Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU. The bus went back along High Lane and they rounded Hanley on the ring road and backnup Victoria Road where they stopped off at Aldi so that Matthew could pick up his weekly shop. They went back to the day centre and Matthew had a baked potato with tuna and cheese. In the afternoon they decided to go up to Longton to have a look at the animals at pets at Home. They went in the usual minibus Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU. We set off up to the A50 Link Road and then we joined the A50 up to Longton. At the roundabout we turned sharp left to go onto the retail park. After seeing the animale we went to Tesco car park so we could see a few buses before we returned to the day centre. First we saw First Potteries 63171 on a #6B to Blythe Bridge.

First Potteries 63171 in Longton Interchange

Then we saw First Potteries 60202 on a #22 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 60202 in Longton Interchange

On a #2 to Hanley was First Potteries 60013.

First Potteries 60013 in Longton Interchange

Since Scraggs have taken over the #50 the service is worked almost exclusively by Scraggs Versa YJ59 GHH just as it was on this occasion.

Scraggs YJ59 GHH in Longton Interchange

A relatively new service is D&G's 'The Orange One'.Seen working the service towards Meir was D&G 112.

D&G 112 in Longton Interchange

The next bus seen leaving the interchange was First Potteries 63178 on a #6B to Hanley.

First Potteries 63178 in Longton Interchange

Another bus on the #2, this time bound for Newcastle was First Potteries 60012.

First Potteries 60012 in Longton Interchange

Demonstrator bus carrying the Raspberry Route colours but with a Northern Irish style cherished registration DRZ 9713 is First Potteries 63180 displaying #6 Longton.

First Potteries 63180 in Longton Interchange

We then saw another D&G bus, 113 doing 'The Orange One' towards Newcastle.

D&G 113 in Longton Interchange

We also saw another #22 service. This time it was First Potteries 60069 working a #22 towards Dresden.

First Potteries 60069 in Longton Interchange

This was followed by First Potteries 40009 on the #22A to Newstead.

First Potteries 40009 in Longton Interchange

The next #6B towards Hanley was being worked by First Potteries 63175.

First Potteries 63175 in Longton Interchange

On the following #2 to Newcastle was heritage liveried Scania First Potteries 60171.

First Potteries 60171 in Longton Interchange

Also present was First Potteries 60189 working the next #2 to Hanley via Meir.

First Potteries 60189 in Longton Interchange

We then saw First Potteries 63172 on another #6B to Blythe Bridge.

First Potteries 63172 in Longton Interchange

before we left we saw D&G Solo 114 on 'The Orange one' towards Meir.

D&G 114 in Longton Interchange

Going back to the day centre we set off out off Tesco's car park and went past the bus station onto King Street. We headed down King Street and forward onto City Road before turning left onto Glebedale Road and to our destination. When it was time to go we got in Shelton Care Group DX53 VCA for the journey up to the respite centre. We headed back out onto City Road and towards Longton on King Street. We turned left into clarence road and we headed over onto Anchor Road avoiding Longton town centre. When we got to Anchor Road we turned left and we headed up to Adderley Green. We turned left and we headed into Bentilee. Matthew was dropped off and he went upstairs to his room whilst he waited for tea. There were a few other buses dropping off service users. First to arrive was Stantons of Stoke minibus VU06 KFA.

Stantons of Stoke VU06 KFA in Bentilee

This was followed by Intercity taxi minibus SF58 EXE.

Intercity SF58 EXE in Bentilee

For tea Matthew had shepperds pie followed by cake. Matthew watch some television and then had a bath before going to his room. He used his computer and went to bed around 23:00... Mark