Trip to Hanley / Kidsgrove 31-03-2023

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67159	Fenton, Travers Court	Hanley BS	23	First Potteries
63100	Hanley BS	Kidsgrove, Fourth Avenue	3	First Potteries
63113	Kidsgrove, Fourth Avenue	Hanley BS	3	First Potteries
67153	Hanley BS	Fenton, Albert Square	23	First Potteries
63097	Fenton, Travers Court	Newcastle BS	23	First Potteries
35945	Newcastle BS	Newcastle, O/s Cherry Tree	25	First Potteries

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was going out 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 Blurton and we saw First Potteries 67153 on a #23 to Newcastle. Matthew went into the living room and we saw Temple Street Church RX18 GZW. We also saw the a skip truck collect a skip. We went downstairs and we and we cut through onto City Road to wait a bus to Hanley. We stood at the bus stop outside the flats and we waited for a bus to Hanley. A few minutes later the bus appeared and it was First Potteries 67159 on a #23 to Hanley.

First Potteries 67159 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 went to the stop to wait for a bus to Kidsgrove. A few minutes later we saw First Potteries 63100 on a #3A to Talke Pits.

First Potteries 63100 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus bus and we booked to Kidsgrove before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and onto John Street. We turned right onto Bethesda Street and we went straight across onto Marsh Street. We turned right up onto trinity Street and then left onto Stafford Street. After picking up more passenger outside of Debenhams. We followed the road around to the left and then back onto marsh Street. At the roundabout we went straight on onto Waterloo Road and we ran up the hill into Cobridge. We continued into Buslem and through the traffic lights onto Scotia Road. We went past the old Burslem PMT garage and we followed the road around to the left onto Williamson Street. At the corner we turned right onto Tunstall High Street and past the A527 where there is a new pertol station. We continued North onto the A50. We ran through Goldenhill and down the bank into Kidsgrove. Adjacent to Aldi there is a new retail park being built. We turned left onto the B5371 and when turned the corner and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we crossed over to wait for a bus back to Hanley. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 63113 on a #3A to Hanley.

First Potteries 63113 in Kidsgrove

We got on the bus and we booked to Hanley before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along the B5371 and we turned right onto the A50. We ran up the hill into Goldenhill and then forwards through Sandyford past the new retail park into Tunstall. We ran down the High Street. We continued down the High Street and we ran past the former Co-operative bank. We turned left onto Williamson Street. At the roundabout we turned right onto Scotia Road and we ran into Burslem town centre. We ran past the site of the new Kiln Gate Retail park and we continued into Cobridge. We ran down the hill towards Hanley. Due to roadworks outside of the town the the bus diverted onto the ring road and ran around Hanley. We turned right onto Bethesda Street and right onto John Street before entering the bus station where we got up got off. Once off the bus Matthew went to the toilet. Whilst we waited we saw First Potteries 65032 on a #7A to Biddulph. Afterwards we waited for a bus back to Fenton. A short time later we saw First Potteries 67153 on a #23 to Newstead.

First Potteries 67153 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Fenton before we sat down. 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. We ran up the hill into Fenton and we got up and got off the bus. We crossed over City Road and we walked along Smithpool Road. We visited the chip shop and Matthew got his dinner and a drink. When we had finished we set off along Smithpool Road and around the corner onto Temple Street and back to the residentail unit. Matthew wnt upstairs and had his dinner. He had sausage chips and gravy washed down with a small bottle of Cola. After wards he chilled out in his room and waited for me to arrive. Around 15:00 Matthew came downstairs and we cut through onto City Road. We waited for a bus towards Newcastle. We turned down D&G BUs 114 on a #1A to Wood Lane and we waited for the following bus. A short time later we saw the bus approaching. It we saw it was First Potteries 63097 on a #11 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 63097 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 grandmas house. A short time later we saw D&G Bus 164 on a #1 to Meir.

D&G Bus 164 in Newcastle bus station

We had considered doing this bus, but it was quite full so we decided to wait for another. Another bus we considered was First Potteries 67173 on a #22 to Longton.

First Potteries 67173 in Newcastle bus station

There was a short layover so we waited to see what bus departed first. A short time later we saw a double decker approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 35945 on a #25 to Hanley.

First Potteries 35945 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to the hospital before we sat 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 got up and got off the bus by the Cherry Tree. We got off the bus and Matthew took a picture of First Potteries 35945 as it continued towards Hanley.

First Potteries 35945 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. around 18:00 we set off from Grandma's and headed to the pub. and we ran down Occupation Street. We turned left onto the A34. We continued southwards into Trent Vale past the site of a new Greggs. We continued through 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 35948 on a #101 to Hanley and ABC Supreme YA67 VBD going Northwards. Once we had finished eating we set off We carried on along the A34 through Hanford and into Trentham. We turned left onto the A5035. We crossed over the railway line and into Blurton. We got back around 19:00. Matthew chilled out on his computer and we sorted a few things out. Matthew also had a bag of Richmond mini sausages and a can of Dr Pepper. We wrote the Blog and sent a couple of e-mails. We chilled out on the sofa until bedtime around 00:00... Mark