Trip to Joiners Square / Trent Vale 11-09-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
DV10 JCU	Blurton	Fenton	Charter	Shelton Care Group
DV10 JCU	Fenton	Joiners Square	Charter	Shelton Care Group
DV10 JCU	Joiners Square	Blurton	Charter	Shelton Care Group
40009	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trent Vale, opp Chubb Way (Unmarked)	22	First Potteries

Today Matthew was going to the pub for his tea, 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 DV10 JCU.

Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU 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 Road and forwards onto Blurton Road and we carried on 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. We went to fetch dinner from the chip shop. For dinner he had sausage chips and gravy from the chips shop. After dinner we went to the pub. Today we went to the pub in Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU. We set off onto Glebedale Road and we turned left onto City Road. We headed down to the A52 and we turned right towards the railway station. We saw First Potteries 37157 on a #3 and D&G 158 on a #9 service. We continued along the A52 past the railway station and university and up to Joiners Square. We turned left onto Lichfield Street and we reached our destination. Matthew went to the toilet and had a drink of Coke. Best of the bus sightings included First Potteries 63173 on a #6A to Hanley.

First Potteries 63173 in Joiners Square

Also seen was First Potteries 63179 on a #6A to Blythe Bridge.

First Potteries 63179 in Joiners Square

This was followed shortly afterwards by ABC Supreme SM57 RZU which was seen heading towards Hanley.

ABC Supreme SM57 RZU in Joiners Square

Also on a #6A to Hanley was First Potteries 63250.

First Potteries 63250 in Joiners Square

When it was time to go we went outside to wait for the minibus back home. Whilst we waited we saw First Potteries 63176 on a #6A to Blythe Bridge.

First Potteries 63176 in Joiners Square

This was followed by Scragss Blue Buses YJ69 GHH on a #50 to caverswall.

Scraggs YJ59 GHH in Joiners Square

The minibus appeared and it was Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU. We got on the bus and it went down Lichfield Street and across the roundabout onto Victoria Road. On Victoria Road we went to the top turning sharp right onto City Road. We turned left into Glebedale Road and to our destination. We stopped briefly before setting off onto Glebedale Road and going forwards onto Station Bridge Road and Heron Street. In Heron Cross we went straight across onto Blurton Road and over the A50. We carried on into Blurton along Blurton Road and forward onto Church Road. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Road and to our destination. Matthew got home a little before 15:00 and I had just got back from the chemists! Matthew had toast and a drink of orangeade whilst he waited for the time to go out and catch the bus, as well as some sugar-free Maria biscuits. Since our last outing there had been a timetable change and Newcastle bus garage had closed... The bus to Newcastle was now a few minutes later. There were also constant swapping of buses throughout the day so at this point it is difficult to try and predict what was going to turn up. So far today First Potteries 41498/41502/42356/60015/65035/65567 had all made an appearance today... First Potteries 65035 could quite possibly the First Scania Omnicity to ever work the #22 proper (a couple of Scania Omnicity's worked the #22A when Adderley Green had the turn for a short while over a year ago...) We set off to the bus stop just after 16:15 and we walked all the way to the bus stop on Magdalen Road. A few minutes later an 'Olympia' liveried First Potteries solo came around the corner. Was this the #22 or the #23A? It got closer and we saw it was on the #22. We then saw it was required First Potteries 40009!

First Potteries 40009 in Blurton

We got on the bus and we booked to Harpfields Road. Matthew was very good and didn't honk the horn... We sat down towards the back of the bus and the bus set off onto the A5035. We stopped adjacent to newstead industrial estate and we were passed by Bennetts minibus FY52 GOP. We crossed over the railway and we entered Trentham, and we turned right into New Inn Lane. Opposite to the man in Space we saw First Potteries 41501 on a #21 to the Trentham Hotel. A bit further up the road we saw dud First Potteries 41497 on a #22 to Longton. In Hanford as we turned into Wilson Road we passed First Potteries 53123. The bus emptied a little at the rear and Matthew took a picture of the empty rear of First Potteries 40009.

Inside First Potteries 40009

On Church lane we passed First Potteries 53122 on a #21A to Trentham Gardens. We joined the A34 and passed First Potteries 65041 just before the A500. We went under the A500 and we entered Trent Vale. At Harpfield Road we turned right and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 40009 as it carried on towards Newcastle.

First Potteries 40009 in Trent Vale

We walked back onto the A34 and we saw Paul's of Stoke M221 AGL. We got to the pub before mum did today, so we sat on the wall for a few minutes. Whilst we were there we saw First Potteries 65033 on a #10 to Hanley.

First Potteries 65033 in Trent Vale

We met up with mum and Matthew had a brunch with bread and butter followed by toffee sponge pudding with ice cream. Whilst we ate highlights of the passing buses were Coaches Stanton's of Stoke ONZ 1128, Global Travel T5 XLA & HUI 6822 and bakers Coaches BIG 5013 all going North. We also saw ABC Supreme BV51 BNZ on a Stafford bound hospital link service. After we had finished eating we went to the car and Matthew called uncle Dave to tell him we were on the way. We set off down the A34 and we joined the Northbound A500. At Sideway we went Eastwards along the A50 to Heron Cross. We dropped into Fenton and we picked uncle Dave up, and we came back through heron Cross. We crossed the A50 and we went into Blurton along Blurton Road. We followed the road forwards onto church Road and we turned right into Beaconsfield Drive. We passed First Potteries 41497 on a #22 to Longton, and we got home around 18:15. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:00... Mark