Trip to Central Forest Park / Stoke 28-07-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
DY08 FFX	Blurton	Fenton	Charter	Shelton Care Group
DV10 JCU	Fenton	Central Forest Park	Charter	Shelton Care Group
DV10 JCU	Central Forest Park	Blurton	Charter	Shelton Care Group
53209	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop X	Blurton, opp Ladybank Grove	23	First Potteries

Today Matthew was going to get a new bus pass, but not before he had been out with his day service. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast and blackcurrant juice for breakfast. Just before 09:00 his transport to his day service turned up and it was Shelton Care Group DY08 FFX.

Shelton Care Group DY08 FFX in Blurton

we got on the bus and the bus set off onto the A5035. We went over the railway line into Trentham before turning at New Inn Lane. We turned into Pacific Drive and we picked up another service user before going back onto New Inn Lane. We returned along A5035 before turning left into Church Toad and forwards onto Blurton Road to Heron Cross. We turned right to go through the traffic lights and onto Heron Street. After crossing over the railway we turned left onto Christchurch Street before reaching our destination. In the morning Matthew went into the sensory and spent time using a computer all had used the exercise equipment. For dinner Matthew had pasta with tomato sauce followed by a Manchester Tart. In the afternoon we went to Central Forest Park for a walk. We went in Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU. We set off onto Glebedale Road and left onto City Road. At the A52 we went towards the railway station. We continued past the railway station and onto Stoke Road. We went up to Snow Hill and we stopped briefly at the other day centre site before continuing up Snow Hill and onto Broad Street. We turned left onto Marsh Street and forwards onto York Street before joining the ring road where we saw Stantons of Stoke GN57 MFZ. We joined Town Road and crossed over the ring road and headed towards Birches Head. We followed the road around to the left and at the entrance we went into the park. Whilst at the park we had a long walk and looked the the ducks as well as stopping at the cafe for a can of Coke. When it was time to go we got back aboard Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU. We travelled towards Birches Head along the A5272 and then turned down Keelings Road through Northwood and onto Limekiln Bank. At the bottom of Limekiln bank we turned right onto the A52. We did the A52 to Joiners Square before turning left onto the Victoria Road. We went to the top of Victoria Road and turned sharp right onto City Road. We turned into Glebedale Road and we stopped briefly at the day centre before continuing home. The bus went towards Heron Cross via Heron Street and through Blurton along Blurton Road. The bus turned into Beaconsfield Drive and we got home around 15:00. Matthew had some toast and a drink of Irn Bru. Matthew needed his bus pass renewing so we drove down to the One Stop Shop in Stoke to get this done. We set of onto the A5035 and we turned left onto Stanley Matthews Way. We joined the A50 and we saw Woods tri-axle coach YS14 LHY heading East back towards Leicester. We followed the left hand lane around past the incinerator and we crossed the A500 and joined onto Campbell Road. In Stoke we joined the one way system and we parked in the car park behind the One Stop Shop on South Wolfe Street. Matthew said hello to a lady using the payment machine and then we got his bus pass sorted in less than 10 minutes. He used the toilet and then we decided to catch a bus home whilst mum drove the car back. We walked onto Church Street and onto Glebe Street where we saw First Potteries Solo 53122 being loaded onto the back of a low loader after a breakdown.

First Potteries 53122 in Stoke

We stood at the stop for around 5 minutes and then we saw a Solo approaching. It was dud First Potteries 53209 on a #23 service to Newstead.

First Potteries 53209 in Stoke

We got on the bus and we booked to Ladybank Grove before sitting down at the back of the bus. This was a bus that we have previously been on back in April 2013 from Blurton to Hanley. The bus set off onto Church Street and across the A500. We joined City Road and we went up to Christchurch Street and turned right into it. At the end of Christchurch Street we turned right onto Station Bridge Road. We went forwards onto Heron Street and we went through heron Cross and over the A50 onto Blurton Road. We passed First Potteries 41502 and we continued into Blurton and forwards onto Church Road. We turned into Beaconsfield Drive and at the end we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 53209 as it carried on towards Newstead.

First Potteries 53209 in Blurton

We walked home getting back at the same time as mum got back in the car. Later in the evening we went to MacDonalds in Trent Vale. We set off onto the A5035 and we passed taxi minibus SE05 JHK in the layby opposite Crowcrofts Road. We continued into Trentham and we passed First Potteries 40028 on a #21B. At the A34 we turned right to go North. We crossed under the A500 and into Trent Vale. We turned into MacDonalds and we saw ABC Supreme FP53 ESU parked in the retail park. We collected the food from the drive in and we also saw Blue minibus YR11 CDK. We headed back down the A34 and we passed ABC Supreme N806 CRJ. We joined the A5035 at Trentham and we got home about 19:30... Matthew ate his food and drank his Coke and we then chilled out on the computer and writing the Blog until bedtime around 23:00... Mark