Trip to Joiners Square / Trent Vale 09-10-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
DY08 FFX	Blurton	Fenton	Charter	Shelton Care Group
DY08 FFX	Joiners Square	Fenton	Charter	Shelton Care Group
DV10 JCU	Fenton	Blurton	Charter	Shelton Care Group
65040	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trent Vale, opp Alder Walk	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 orange 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 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 a City Cabs taxi. We set off onto Glebedale Road and right onto City Road. At the top we turned sharp left onto Victoria Road. At the Joiners Square roundabout we went straight across and onto Lichfield Street. At the pub Matthew went to the toilet and had a drink of Coke. Whilst at the pub we saw a number of interesting buses including 42553 on a #6 to Meir. Matthew also listened to music on the jukebox. When it was time to Leave They went to the pub car park to get Shelton Care Group DY08 FFX back to Fenton. Also in the car park was Shelton Care Group LDV minibus BU05 EWX.

Shelton Care Group BU05 EWX in Joiners Square

We got on the bus and We headed down Lichfield Street and Straight 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. After a brief stop at the day centre, we got on the bus home which today was Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU. We set off onto Glebedale Road and 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 getting home just before 15:00. The plan today was to catch the 16:30 to Newcastle. Whilst we waited, Matthew had toast and a drink of dandelion & burdock. Around 16:15 we set off on foot to the stop all the way over on Magdalen Road. 16:30 came and went and the bus did not turn up... around 15 minutes later running around 15 minutes late was First Potteries 65040, which was carrying an all over advert for The Sentinel. It was the first time we had seen this bus in this all over vinyl wrap. 17:00 came and went and there was still no bus. Not too much of a surprise as the bus to Longton was running late. We had now become resigned to the fact that the bus would probably not turn up before 17:15 and would be the colourful Scania. Sure enough, after nearly an hour waiting for the bus First Potteries 65040 turned the corner out of Finstock Avenue on the #22 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 65040 in Blurton

We got on the bus and we booked to Harpfields Road. This was the first time that we had been on a Scania Omnicity on the #22. It wasn't the first time we had been on this bus though. It was quite a high mileage bus, having been on it twice before from Hanford to Stafford and Fenton to Longton. The bus set off onto the A5035 and we passed First Potteries 66843 on the following #22 to Longton. We crossed over the railway line and into Trentham. The bus emptied a little and Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 65040.

Inside First Potteries 65040

As we turned into New Inn Lane we passed First Potteries 43876 on a #21A to Trentham Gardens. Further down New in Lane we saw First Potteries 53120 on a #21 to the Trentham Hotel. At the top of New Inn Lane we saw the 3rd #22 turn... It was First Potteries 53119. Instead of the bus going via Wilson Road and Church Lane, it went directly down Mayne Street and onto the A34. We crossed under the A500 and into Trent Vale. As we passed London Road we saw First Potteries 42554 on the #21 to Trentham. As we turned into Harpfields Road we passed First Potteries 65027 on a Stafford bound #10 service. We got up to get off and we past the unmarked stop and up to the next visible stop opposite Alder Walk. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 65040 as it carried on towards Newcastle.

First Potteries 65040 in Trent Vale

We walked back onto to the A34 where we turned and saw Alfa Mercedes coach 82 heading South.

Alfa 82 in Trent Vale

When we got to the pub mum was already inside waiting for us. 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 First Potteries 65561 & 66309 both on #22's. We also saw ABC Supreme P881 RND going back towards the hospital. 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 onto the Northbound A500. At Sideway we went Eastwards on the A50. We headed though Heron Cross and into Fenton. After picking uncle Dave up we went back up to Heron Cross and over the A50 into Blurton. We travelled through Blurton along Blurton Road and Church Road weher we saw First Potteries 53119 on a #22 to Longton. We caught up with a Blurton bound Solo, which was First Potteries 40304 on a #23 service. We got home at 18:40. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 23:30... Mark