Trip to Hanley / Newcastle 20-12-2019

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
44514	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Hanley BS‎	23	First Potteries
65705	Hanley BS	Festival Park, Canal bridge	4	First Potteries
67647	Festival Park, Royal Doulton	Hanley BS	4	First Potteries
67151	Hanley BS‎	Fenton, opp Albert Square	23	First Potteries
63116	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Newcastle BS	11	First Potteries
63113	Newcastle BS	Newcastle, Adj Cherry Tree	22	First Potteries

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was going to his day service. He was also going to see Grandma later on and going to the pub and returning to Blurton for Christmas. On arrival Matthew sang happy birthday to uncle Rob. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Whilst waiting to go out he watched buses out of the window. we saw Copeland's Tours MIB 905 heading towards Stoke. Around 09:00 we went downstairs and we set off onto Temple Street. We turned right onto Christchurch Street and to the day centre. In the morning we went out on the bus. We saw Shelton Care Group BL69 RFF parked up outside.

Shelton Care Group BL69 RFF in Fenton

Near to the day centre we saw silver minibus ML14 XPT parked up.

ML14 XPT in Fenton

We set off onto Christchurch Street and we turned left onto Temple Street. We cut through onto City Road and we waited for a bus towards Hanley. A short time later we saw First Potteries 44514 on a #23 to Hanley.

First Potteries 44514 in Fenton

We got on the bus and we booked to Hanley before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off down City Road and we joined the A52 to go under the railway line and over the A500. We continued onto Church Street and into the centre of Stoke. After a brief stop we continued around the one-way system onto Elenora Street and right onto Copeland street. We turned left onto Glebe Street and we went under the railway line before turning left onto Station Road. We went past the railway station ans we turned right onto College Road. After running the hill through Shelton we continued onto Cleveland Road and forwards onto Regent Road. We turned left onto Lower Bethesda Street and we crossed over the ring road onto Bethesda Street. We turned right onto John Street and once in the bus station we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we waited for the next bus towards Festival Park. Whilst we waited we saw Park's of Hamilton BV67 JYT on a #333 to Bournemouth. A few minutes later we saw First Potteries 65705 on a #4 to Audley.

First Potteries 65705 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Festival Park. As the bus was empty Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 65705 before we sat down.

Inside First Potteries 65705

Whilst we waited for time to depart we saw recent arrival First Potteries 65030 on a #18 to Leek in Leek Link livery. We set off onto John Street and we turned right onto Bethesda Street. We crossed over Broad Street onto Marsh Street and we turned left onto Etruria Road. We crossed under the A53 and we and we ran forwards onto Festival Way. We turned left onto Forge Lane and we got up and got off the bus. Once of the bus we crossed over the road and we visited the pub. In the pub Matthew had a Coke. For dinner Matthew had a carvery. When he had finished eating Matthew went to the toilet. We went outside and we waited for a bus back towards Hanley. A short time later we saw First Potteries 67647 on a #4 to Hanley.

First Potteries 67647 in Festival Park

We got on the bus and we booked to Hanley before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Forge Lane and we turned right onto Festival Way where we saw Cabability WA62 FFU on the roundabout. We went under the A53 and we ran forwards onto Etruria Road. We ran forwards onto Trinity Street and we turned right onto Stafford Street. We ran past the town hall onto Bagnall Street and into the bus station. We waited for a bus back to Fenton. A few minutes later we saw First Potteries 67151 on a #23 to Newstead.

First Potteries 67151 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Fenton before sitting down towards the back of the bus. Whilst we waited to depart we saw another new bus to the area... First Potteries 65029 on a #18 to Leek. We set off onto John Street and we turned left onto Bethesda Street. We crossed over the ring road and we ran down onto Regent Road and forwards onto Cleveland Road. We ran down though Shelton along College Road. We turned right onto Avenue Road and left onto Stoke Road. We ran down the hill and we turned left onto Station Road and past the railway station. We turned right onto Glebe Street and under the railway line an we ran around the one-way system in Stoke and stopped by Stoke Minster. We turned left onto Church Street and we crossed the A500 and we ran under the railway line. After climbing up the hill into Fenton we turned right into Christchurch Street where we got up and got off the bus. We then walked back to the day centre. Later on we returned to the residential unit. We set off onto Christchurch Street and left onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. We went upstairs and chilled in his room. We went downstairs and onto Temple Street and crossed over Christchurch Street and visited the Co-operative food store. He brought a Christmas card for me and mum and afterwards returned to the residential unit and we went upstairs whilst he waited for me to come and pick him up. Matthew filled in his card and got the present ready to take home. I arrived a few minutes before 15:00 and we got ready to go out. We had to leave the card and presents behind today as we were going to Grandma's house on the bus and wouldn't be able to carry them! We set off about 15:30 and we went downstairs and cut through onto City Road. We waited at the bus stop for a bus towards Newcastle. Work has now started on the site of the old blind school to build a new sheltered housing complex. A while later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 63116 on a #11 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 63116 in Fenton

We got on the bus and we booked to Newcastle before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off down City Road and we ran down the hill over the old railway line to Leek and onto the A52. We ran under the railway line and over the A500 and straight into Stoke town centre along Church Street. After a brief stop in Stoke we continued along church Street and forwards onto Hartshill Road. We ran up the hill and into Hartshill. We ran forwards onto George Street and we ran down the hill into Newcastle. We turned left at the roundabout onto Barracks Road and into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. We waited for a bus towards the hospital. A short time later we saw First Potteries 63113 on a #22 to Longton.

First Potteries 63113 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to the Hospital. The rear of the bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 63113 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside First Potteries 63113

We set off out of the bus station onto Barracks Road. We ran Southwards onto the A34 and we got up and got off the bus by the Cherry Tree. We got off the bus and Matthew took a picture of First Potteries 63113 as it continued towards Longton.

First Potteries 63113 in Newcastle

Once off the bus we headed up the hill towards Grandma's. At Grandma's Matthew had toast and a can of Irn Bru and used her computer. He also had a slice of chocolate log. When it was time to go we said goodbye to Grandma and we got in the car. We set off just after 17:20 and we ran down Occupation Street. We turned left onto the A34. We continued southwards into Trent Vale and we stopped at the pub. We walked into the pub and we sat down at our one our normal tables. Matthew had a brunch with oatcakes followed by toffee sponge pudding with ice cream. Highlights of the bus sightings included First Potteries 67652 on a #22 to Longton, E-zec patient transport YJ16 GHY and First Potteries 65005 on a #101 to Hanley. Once we had finished eating we set off to uncle Dave's to pick him up. We ran down the A34 and we joined the Northbound A500. At Sideway we turned right onto the A50 heading Eastwards. We came off the A50 at Heron Cross. We dropped down into Fenton to pick uncle Dave up. Once we had picked him up we ran up to Heron Cross and we into Blurton along Blurton Road. We turned right onto Church Road and right onto Beaconsfield Drive and we got home around 18:45. Matthew chilled out on his computer and we composed a few e-mails and sorted a few things out. We then chilled out on the sofa doing e-mails and writing the until bedtime around 01:00... Mark