Trip to Leicester / Oadby 30-10-2021

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4109	Leicester Haymarket BS	Oadby, adj Alexandra Court	31	Arriva Midlands
37045	Oadby, Adj Lidl	Leicester Haymarket BS	X7	Stagecoach Midlands
63364	Leicester Haymarket BS	Rushey Mead, adj Braemer Drive	4	First Leicester
2939	Rushey Mead, Adj Sainsbury's	Leicester Haymarket BS	6	Arriva Midlands
26204	Leicester Haymarket BS	Oadby, Opp Lidl	X7	Stagecoach Midlands
4202	Oadby, adj The Wheel Inn	Leicester Haymarket BS	31	Arriva Midlands

Today we decided to re-visit Leicester. We made the choice earlier in the week based on the availability of a multi-operator tickets and lower rates over Covid in recent times. We checked the weather and it was for dry and unseaonably warm weather for the time of year. What I hadn't researched was the fact the Leicester were at home to Arsenal in the 12:30 kick off! We got up around 10:30 and we had tost for breakfast. We got ready and we set off around 11:30 to pick up uncle Dave. We set off through Blurton and onto Beaconsfield Drive. We turned left onto Church Road and at the roundabout we veered left onto Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton and into Heron Cross and over the A50. At Heron Cross lights we turned left onto Grove Road. We ran forwards onto Wheildon Road and we picked up uncle Dave. We turned around and ran up Wheildon Road and forwards onto Grove. We turned right onto Blutron Road and at the roundabout we joined the Eastbound A50. We came off the A50 at Longton and we turned left onto Baths Road. We stopped at Tesco to fill up with diesel and we re-joined the A50. Just before we went down the slip road we saw D&G Bus 50 on a #24 to Hanley. We ran Eastwards up towards Blyth bridge and we follwed the A50 to the right. We ran past Uttoxter and towards the M1. As we travelled Eastwards we saw silver taxi minibus MD17 ???, Flixbus FX25(023),Emenence Travel BV70 UAL and Global Travel T5 XLA. A couple of miles short of the M1 the car started making a noise from the back and the handling started to changed. I quickly realised that we had a rear puncture and we found somewhere safe to pull over on the exit of the gravel quarries. Everyone got out of the car and I changed the tyre. Whilst I was changing the tyre City Cabs DG55 FLK go past. The tyre change was straight forwards so we got going again in around 20 minutes. We got back underway and we joined the Southbound M1. As we travelled Southwards we saw Skills (NX) BX16 CHG(#450). We came off the M1 and we joined the A50. We ran into town and on the edge of town we turned left onto Blackbird Way. We followed the road around onto St Margarets Way and we turned right onto Belgrave Gate. We did a u-turn and we ran up towards the bus station and into the car park. We parked up and we walked through the shopping centre to the bus station. We went tuse the toilets in the bus station but these are currently closed. So we headed back into the shopping centre and Matthew used the toilets there. After we had used the toilets we said goodbye to mum and we walked back to the bus station. Matthew took a few bus pictures whilst I get the burgers from the food place outside the bus station. We saw Arrive Midlands 2954 on a #6 to Thurmaston.

Arriva Midlands 2954 in Leicester bus station

Also seen was First Leicester 35152 on a #14A to Beaumont Leys.

First Leicester 35152 in Leicester bus station

Afterwards we saw Centebus 253 on a #22A to Birstall.

Centebus 253 in Leicester bus station

Another vehicle seen was Arriva Midlands 3107 on a #44A to South Wigston.

Arriva Midlands 3107 in Leicester bus station

Once the burger were ready we stood at the end of the bus station and ate our burgers. We walked through bus station to see what we could catch. Matthew took an interest in Arriva Midlands double decker 4109 that was about to work a #31 to Oadby. It was not due off for another few minutes so we walked down to the bottom end of the bus station to be outside in the fresh air. Whilst outside we saw Arriva Midlands 4505 on a #49 to Fleckney.

Arriva Midlands 4505 in Leicester bus station

We walked back into the bus station and the driver was getting Arriva Midlands 4109 ready for service, so Matthew took a picture before we got onboard.

Arriva Midlands 4109 in Leicester bus station

We got on the bus and we booked Flexi Day tickets at £4.80 each. We went upstairs and we sat down before the bus pulled ou of the bus station. We turned sharp right onto Charles Street and we headed South Eastwards. We joined the Southbound A594 and we went past the railway station on the the A6. As we travelled down the A6 out of town for a further 2 1/2 miles before turning The Parade. We continued onto Leiceter Road and just on the other side of the roundabout on London Road we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walked up New Street and headed up to the A6. We walked past the supermarket, which used to be a Wiatrose before it closed on our last visit. It is now re=opened as a Starbucks and Lidl. We waited at the stop outside of Lidl for the next bus towards Leicester. We checked on the map and saw Stagecoach Midlands Enviro200 37045 was about 15 minutes away to the South of us. We decided to have a drink whilst we waited. We had a can of Coke each, and we also saw Arriva Midlands 26207 on a X7 service to Market Harborough. A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was Stagecoach Midlands 37045 on a X7 to Leicester as expected.

Stagecoach Midlands 37045 in Oadby

We got on the bus and we flashed the Flexi Day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off Northwards up the A6. We ran through the leafy suburbs of Leicester and we ran past the railway station. We ran forwards onto Charles street. before entering the bus station before we got up and got off the bus. We want to catch something quickly, and we decided to have a walk up and down to see what we could do. As we walked up the stand, Matthew saw First Leicester 63364 on a #4 Rushey Mead circular which we decided to do.

First Leicester 63364 in Leicester bus station

We got on the bus and we placed the Flexi Day tickets under the scanner before we sat down. We set off out of the bus station onto Belgrave Gate and we went under the flyover onto the A607. We ran Northwards along the golden mile which had lights in place ready for Diwali. As we travelled Northwards we passed Central coaches P25 GJR and NIB 8179 coming the other way. We ran Northwards for a couple of miles and we turned right onto Gipsy Lane. As we turned left to follow Gipsy Lane we went past the rather impressive Hindu temple. We ran forwards onto Barkby Road and just before the railway bridge we turned left onto Wyvern Avenue. I decided to research what we could do to get beck to leicester. We could come back on another #4 or we could walk over to the A607 and catch either a #5 or #6 back to town. We ran forwards onto Gleneagle Avenue and as we approached Troon Way we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of First Leicester 63364 at it continued towards the end of the run.

First Leicester 63364 in Rushey Mead

On the other side of the road we saw First Leicester 63365 on another #4 followed by Centrebus 314 on a #40 city circular service. We decided to walk over to the A607 and catch something Arriva back into town. We set off along Gleneagles Avenue and we turned left onto Nicklaus Road. We turned left onto Troon Way and we followed the wide pedestrian pathway alongside this main road. We walked past Sainsbury's and when we got to the A607 we crossed over Troon way to get to the Southbound bus stop. We waited at the stop and we had a look on the map. In the distance we saw an Arrive double decker approaching. It was due in around 10 minutes. A few minutes later we were surprised by an Arriva single decker that wasn't showing on the map. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do the approaching bus and he said yes. As it got closer we saw that it was Arriva Midlands 2939 on a #6 to Leicester.

Arriva Midlands 2939 in Rushey Mead

We got on the bus and we placed the Flexi Day tickets under the scanner before we sat down. We set off down the A607 and we ran back through the bustling Golden Mile area of Leicester. We passed the big whell and we ran into the centre of Leicester. We crossed over the roundabout under the flyover and we ran down Belgrave Gate and into the bus station. Once we got off the bus we had a walk around and we looked to see what else we might catch. We saw there was a X7 to Northampton due ain a few minutes and we could see a bus on layover further up the bus station. A few minutes later the bus approached the stand. As it got closer we saw it was Stagecoach Midlands 26204 on a X7 to Northampton.

Stagecoach Midlands 26204 in Leicester bus station

We got on the bus and we placed the Flexi day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and we turned sharp right onto Charles Street and we headed South Eastwards. We joined the Southbound A594 and we went past the railway station on the the A6. As we travelled down the A6 out of town for a further 2 1/2 miles and the bus stopped on the A6 opposite to Lidl. We got up and got off the bus. Matthew had wanted to go further on the bus, but with us starting out a bit late and the car having a flat tyre, this would not be practicle to do today. We crossed over the A6 and we decided to visit the Lidl Store. Matthew used the toilet and afterwards we brough a couple of small bottles of Coke and a pack of Crunchies. We decided to catch a #31 back towards Leicester, which in hindsight might not have been the best idea. The route of the #31 has changed since the last time we did the bus South of Oadby! We walked down New Street onto London Road and we crossed over to look at the bus towards Leicester. The first stop we found said stop out of use, and we concluded the route must have changed so that the entire run to the South of Oadby town centre was a large circular end. We decided to cross over and go Southwards around the loop. We waited outside THe Wheel Inn pub and we saw there was a bus due at 17:20. We could not see what the bus was going to be as I guess the route data is not on bustimes.org. Whilst we waited Matthew had one of the Crunchie bars from the bag. A few minutes later the bus turn up and it was dud Arriva Midlands 4202 on a #31 to Leicster.

Arriva Midlands 4202 in Oadby

We got on the bus and we placed the Flexi Day ticket under the scanner for the final time today. The bus ran Southwards down London Road and we turned left onto the Northbound A6. We turned right onto Uplands Road and left into Launde Road. We turned right onto Copse Close and forwards onto Severn Road. We ran forwards onto Ullswater Drive and left onto Hunters Way. We turned left onto Beaufort Way and right onto Florence Wragg Way. We turned right onto the A6 and we ran North for around 1/3 mile. As we ran up the A6 we were passed by Grey minicoach LN17 LKJ. We turned left onto Ash Tree Road. We turned left onto Glen Way and right onto Park Crescent. We turned left onto Coombe Rise and we ran around a loop and left onto Ridge Way. We Headed Westwards and forwards onto Howdon Road. We turned right onto Briar Walk and at the end we turned left onto Rosemead Drive. We crossed the B582 and ran onto Brabazon Road. We turned right onto Chestnut Avenue and into the centre of Oadby. We turned left onto The Parade and we paused for a short while before continuing North to the A6. We ran through the leafy suburbs of Leicester and we ran past the railway station. We ran forwards onto Charles street and into Haymarket Bus Station. We got up and got off the bus and we met up with mum. Matthew decided he wanted to visit the arcade for a short time. We then took a few more bus pictures before going back towards the car. We saw Arriva Midlands 4107 parked up in the layover spaces.

Arriva Midlands 4107 in Leicester bus station

We headed into the shopping centre and we went to use the toilet but it had been taken out of use for cleaning. We met up with mum and uncle Dave and we went back to the car. Matthew had a sausage roll and a bottle of Irn Bru. We paid for the parking and we set off out of the carpark onto Belgrave Gate. We turned left onto Burley Way and we turned right onto the Northbound A6. We turned left onto Ravensbridge Drive and left onto Blackbird Road. We turned right onto the Northbound A50. As we have done before we missed the junction where the road veers to the right so we ended uo on Fosse Road North heading Southwards! We veered right onto Henley Road and we turned right onto Aikman Avenue. We decided to follow a different Sat Nav, and that also took us back to the A50 via a chip shop! We turned right onto Pinder Road and we ran down to the roundabout where the chip shop was situated. We parked up and I fetch the chips and Matt and mum went to the Londis next door. Matthew had a chocolate bar and a bottle of Coke. I came back with the chips. Matthew sat in the car and ate sausage, chips and gravy washed down with the bottle of Coke. Once we had finished eating onto Stephenson Drive and we ran down to the end. We turned left onto Fosse Road North and we turned left onto the A50 and we ran out of the city. We crossed the A46 and we continued Northwards towards the motorway. We joined the Northbound M1 at junction 22 and we travelled up to junction 23A. We came off onto the Westbound A50 and we travelled back through the darkness. As we headed West we saw blue minibus NV67 MUY and an unidentified Flixbus on the #023 service. We continued through Meir and Longton an we came off the A50 at Heron Cross. We turned right onto Blurton Road and left onto Grove Road. We continued onto Whieldon Road and we dropped off uncle Dave. Matthew went in as he was desperate for the toilet. He also updated uncle Dave's calendar with the details of today's trip. We said goodbye to uncle Dave and we set off back to Blurton. We set off onto Wheildon Road and we ran forwards onto Grove Road. We turned right onto Blurton Road and we crossed over the A50. We continued through Blurton and we turned right onto Church Road. We turned right onto Beaconsfiels Drive and we got back to Blurton around 20:45. Matthew chilled out on his computer and we did some of the Blog. We also wrote a few emails and generally used the computer to entertain ourselves. We watched TV and Matthew got ready for bed. Matthew settled down around 00:30... Mark