Trip to Newcastle / Stafford 11-02-2023

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67178	Fenton, Victoria Place	Newcastle BS	11	First Potteries
65034	Newcastle BS	Stafford, Chell Road	101	First Potteries
63099	Stafford BS	Hanley BS	101	First Potteries
63116	Hanley BS	Fenton, Victoria Place	6	First Potteries

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was Stafford on the bus. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast for breakfast. before Matthew went to the day centre he watched buses out of the window. whilst waiting for the time to go to the day centre, we saw Temple Street Church RX18 GZW. Later on we went downstairs and we set off onto Temple Street. In the distance we saw Temple Street church minibus RX18 GZW. We carried on along Temple Street and we turned left onto Christchurch Street and we onto City Road. We turned sharp left onto Victoria Road and we waited for a bus to Hanley. We got to the bus stop in time to see we saw First Potteries 44515 on a #6 to Hanley. Whilst we waited for the next bus we saw First Potteries 63179 on a #6A to Hanley. We returned back into City Road. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 67178 on a #11 to Newcastle. 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. Due to roadworks there was a diversion in place for Westbound bus services. We turned left onto Lonsdale Street and right onto Flemming Road. We turned right onto Boothen Road and we re-joined 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. Once off the bus Matthew got a picture of First Potteries 67175 before it returned towards Hanley on a #11 service.

First Potteries 67178 in Newcastle bus station

We had a look around and to see what we might catch. We saw First Potteries 67179 on a #98 to Ball Green. We were tracking we saw First Potteries 44514 on a #99 to Chell Heath. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 65034 on a #101 to Stafford.

First Potteries 65034 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Stafford before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Barracks Road. We ran Southwards onto the A34 and we ran down through Trent Vale and into Hanford. We continued down through to Trentham and then we got onto the fast section of the A34. We ran through Tittensor to Darlaston and we continued down to the North end of Stone. We Veered left onto Newcastle Road and we ran into Stone town centre. After going around the one-way system and onto Stafford Road. We crossed over the A34 onto Eccleshall Road. We turned left onto Tilling Drive and we ran onto the industrial estate. We saw former Newcastle International Airport YJ16 DXP. We rejoined the A34 at the roundabout where the A51 goes Eastwards and we ran Southwards through the fast section on the A34 to the A513 roundabout. We ran the last couple of miles into town down the A34 onto Foregate Street and we turned right onto Chell Road where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walked Westwards along Chell Road and we turned right onto Gaolgate Street. We walked over to Costa Coffee and Matthew had a wiltshire ham & mature cheddar toastie and fries washd down with bottle of Coke and a slice of cake. Once we had finished eating we set off onto Gaolgate Street and past the Market Square. We continued through the Market Square and forwards onto Greengate Street and leftonto South Walls. We Veered left onto Staffordshire Place and we ran into Tipping Street. We turned right onto Gaolgate Street. At the top we turned right and we stopped at the bus station. In the bus station we saw Select Bus 32 on a #8 to Parkside.

Select Bus 21 in Stafford bus station

We waited for a bus back towards Newcastle. A short time later we saw First Potteries 63099 on a #101 to Hanley. We got on the bus and we flashed The Knot ticket to the driver before. We left the bus station onto the A34 and we ran Northwards to the edge of town. We continued up the fast section of the A34 to the edge of Stone and then we turned left onto the industrial estate. We ran around the estate and onto Tiling Drive. We turned right onto Eccleshall Road and we crossed the A34 onto Stafford Road. We turned left onto Crown Street and we stopped at the main stop in Stone. We ran North up Newcastle Road and we re-joined the Northbound A34. We ran Morth through Meaford and Tittensor and up into Trentham. We continued North through Hanford and Trent Vale and we past the City General hospital before going into Newcastle. We turned right onto Barracks Road and we entered the bus station we saw First Potteries 63103 on a #4A to Talke Pits. We continued along onto Barracks Road and we crossed the roundabout onto the A53 and we went onto the one-way system on the A52. We veered left onto George Street and at the roundabout we went onto Shelton New Road. We crossed over the A500 and we ran up to Snow Hill. We ran up Broad Street and we turned right onto the anti-clockwise ring road. We turned left onto Bethesda Street and right onto John Street. We climbed the hill and up into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 63099.

First Potteries 63099 in Hanley bus station

Right behind was First Potteries 67146 on a #7 to Kidsgrove. A few minutes later we saw First Potteries 44511 on a #7A to Biddulph. Once off the bus we headed to the toilet. We waited for a bus back towards Fenton. A few minutes later the bus appeared and it was First Potteries 63116 on a #6 to Coalville.

First Potteries 63116 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Fenton before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto John Street and we turned left onto Bethesda Street. We turned left onto the ring road and we turned right onto Lichfield Street and we ran down the hill to Joiners Square. We crossed the roundabout onto Victoria Road and we ran up the hill into Fenton. At the top of the hill we got up and got off the bus. One off the bus we set off on foot onto City Road and we turned left onto Christchurch Street and we turned right onto Temple Street and we returned to the residential unit. Matthew went room to chill out and watch buses out of the window. chilled out in his room and used his computer. For tea Matthew had burger fries & coke from MacDonalds followed by a slice of cheesecake. After tea Matthew returned to his room. Matthew had a bath and then had toast for supper. He then chilled out in his room until bedtime around 23:00... Mark.