Trip to Apedale / Trent Vale 31-12-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
DV10 JCU	Blurton	Fenton	Charter	Shelton Care Group
DV10 JCU	Fenton	Apedale	Charter	Shelton Care Group
DV10 JCU	Apedale	Fenton	Charter	Shelton Care Group
DV10 JCU	Fenton	Blurton	Charter	Shelton Care Group
67632	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 to 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 DV10 JCU.

Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU in Blurton

We got on to the bus and the bus set off onto the A5035. We went through Dresden and into Longton before crossing the A50. We went past the Gladstone Pottery Museum and across Uttoxeter Road and under the railway line before going left down a side street and onto Anchor Road. As we travelled up Anchor Road we saw 60175 running empty. In Adderley Green we turned right and went past the First Bus garage. We carried on to Bentilee and we picked up another service user. After we had picked them up we headed back to Adderley Green and back down Anchor Road. At the bottom Anchor Road we zigged and zagged through side streets and we came out on King Street. We headed out of Longton and into Fenton, forwards onto City Road. We then turned left into Glebedale road and to our destination. In the morning Matthew spent time in the sensory room s using computers. For dinner Matthew had an omelette followed by a piece of Batternburg cake. After dinner they went for a drive out to Apedale Park. Transport for the trip was aboard Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU. We set off onto Glebedale Road and we turned right onto City Road. At the bottom we joined the A52 and we went under the railway before joining the Northbound A500. We came off the A500 onto Shelton New Road and we saw first Potteries 32081 on a #10 to Hanley. We headed up the hill before re-joining the A52 at George Street for the run down towards Newcastle. We carried on along the A52 around the top end of Newcastle and we joined the Northbound A34. At the old Newcastle bus garage we saw first Potteries 42354 as well as 60175 which must have run up to be stored until sold or scrapped. We continued up the A34 before turning left onto London Road. At the roundabout we turned left onto Loomer Road and we continued around the corner until we got to the destination. Matthew got off the bus and went toilet and had a drink of Coke. After he finished his drink they got back aboard the bus for the journey back to Fenton. We got back onto Loomer Road and we headed down London Road back onto the A34. We went onto the A52 and we went around the North end of Newcastle. We joined the Eastbound A53 to go around the one way system to re-join the A52. At the end of George Street we joined Shelton New Road for the run back to the A500. We came off the A500 at the Stoke Road junction and we ran along the top level of the A500 so that we could come off at City Road. We went under the railway line and up the hill and we turned into Glebedale Road and to our destination. After a short stop we got back aboard Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU for the journey back home. We joined Glebedale road and we turned right onto City Road. We went to Heron Cross via the A50 link Road past Duke Street, before joining Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton and onto church road before turning right onto Beaconsfield Drive. we turned left onto Finstock Avenue and Matthew got home just before 15:00. At home Matthew had some toast washed down with dandelion & burdock whilst we waited for time to go out and catch the bus. Around 15:40 we set off to the bus stop all the way over on Magdalen Road. Whilst we waited for our bus we saw dud First Potteries 53119 on a #23A to Hanley.

First Potteries 53119 in Blurton

Going the other way we saw dud First Potteries 67636 on a #22 to Longton.

First Potteries 67636 in Blurton

This is a bus that we first had when it was with First Worcester from Catshill to Bromsgrove back in February 2015. A few minutes later, bang on time another First Potteries Enviro300 came around the corner. as it got closer we saw that it was required First Potteries 67632.

First Potteries 67632 in Blurton

We got on the bus and we booked to Harpfields Road. the bus was nearly empty except for two people right at the front of the bus, so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 67632.

Inside First Potteries 67632

We sat down towards the back of the bus and the bus set off onto the A5035. We headed over the railway and into Trentham. Free Spirits MK52 PXH was parked up at the Trentham Hotel and we turned right into New Inn Lane. At the man in Space we briefly caught up with First Potteries 43875 on the #21A. We carried on up New Inn Lane and we turned right into Wilson Road. further along we passed First Potteries 53063 on a Trentham bound #21 service. We went down Church Lane and we joined the A34 where we passed First Potteries 41496 on a Longton bound #22 service. We turned right onto Harpfields Road and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 67632 as it carried on towards Newcastle.

First Potteries 67632 in Trent Vale

We walked back onto the A34 and we saw The Redeemed Church of God minibus VN05 CKK.

Redeemed Church of God VN05 CKK in Trent Vale

We also saw a brown Volkswagen minibus YT15 APU going Northwards. When we got to the pub mum was already parked up in the car park. 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 was ABC Supreme minibus N806 CRJ. Service buses seen included First Potteries 32081 & 65033 on the #10 to Stafford. 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 went 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. We turned into Beaconsfield Drive and we got home just after 17:30. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around early in 2016...! Mark