Trip to Hanley / Newcastle 14-04-2023

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67154	Fenton, Travers Court	Hanley BS	23	First Potteries
67155	Hanley BS	Fenton, Albert Square	23	First Potteries
67179	Fenton, Travers Court	Newcastle BS	23	First Potteries
35943	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. He was also going to the pub, going to see Grandma and going to Blurton. Matthew got up at 08:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. I the morning Matthew went out to catch the bus. We went downstairs and cut through onto City Road and we saw Afford rent-a-car YN23 HHR. We waited at the bus stop for a bus towards Hanley. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 67154 on a #23 to Hanley.

First Potteries 67154 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 we got off the bus. Once off the bus we set off on foot onto Lichfield Street and we went straight onto Stafford Street and we headed into the shopping centre. We went up the the second floor level and we went to the cafe. Matthew had a can of coke and a cake. When we had finished we walked through the shopping centre and we went into the lift to the ground floor and out onto Tontine Square. We walked down Tontine Street and onto Lichfield Street and back to the bus station. We waited for a bus towards Fenton. As short time later we saw Arriva Midlands 2977 on a #64 to Market Drayton. A few minutes later the bus came on stand. We saw it was First Potteries 67155 on a #23 to Newstead.

First Potteries 67155 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 and we ran down to 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. We ran under the railway line and we continued onto City Road. At the top of the hill we got up and got off the bus. We walked up City Road and we turned left at Victoria Square and down Victoria Road to Aldi. Matthew did his weekly shop and afterwards we got a Lucky Seven taxi to the residential unit. We got in the car and we set off onto Victoria Road. We turned right onto Manor Street and right onto City Road. We turned left onto Smithpool Road and left onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. We went upstairs and Matthew chilled out in his room. Later on Matthew went out to fetch dinner. We went downstairs and we set off onto Temple Street and we turned left onto Smithpool Road. We picked up the food and we walked back along Smithpool Road and right onto Temple Street. We went upstairs and Matthew had sausage chips and gravy washed down with a can of Irn Bru. Matthew chilled in his room and waited for me to come and pick him up. I arrived just before 15:00 and Matthew came downstairs. We cut through onto City Road and we waited at the bus stop by the flats. We saw D&G Bus 126 on a #1A to Audley.

D&G Bus 126 in Fenton

We decided to turn this bus down and wait for the following First bus. Whilst we waited we saw Starsleeper BU55 BED heading towards Stoke.

Starsleeper BU55 BED in Fenton

A short time later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 67179 on a #11 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67179 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 and we saw blue minibus V604 MBL. 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 we had a look around to see what we might catch. We saw D&G Bus 49 on a #94B to Bradwell.

D&G Bus 49 in Newcastle bus station

Another vehicle seen was First Potteries 67180 on a #99 to Chell.

First Potteries 67180 in Newcastle bus station

A short time later we saw another bus. It was First Potteries 35943 running out of service.

First Potteries 35943 in Newcastle bus station

It dropped onto the stand and it became a #25 to Hanley. So we decided to catch this bus. We got on the bus and we booked to the hospital before going upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty, so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 35943 before we sat down.

Inside First Potteries 35943

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 35943 as it continued towards Hanley.

First Potteries 35943 in Newcastle

Once off the bus we headed along the A34 and we went up the hill towards Grandma's. At Grandma's Matthew had toast and a can of Irn Bru and used her computer. When it was time to go we went to the pub in the car via uncle Daves house. We set off just after 17:30 and we set off onto Victoria Street. We joined the Southbound A34 and we turned left onto The Avenue. At the end we turned right onto Hartshill Road. We ran down to Stoke and onto the one way system. We turned right onto Elenora Street and we followed the road around onto Copeland Street. We ran forwards onto Glebe Street and we followed the one way system onto Church Street. We crossed over the A500. We turned right onto the A500. We veered left into Fenton to pick up uncle Dave. We set off back down towards Stoke and onto the A500. We turned left onto Church Street and and we went around the one-way system. We turned left onto London Road and we headed into the West End, and we ran past the former Oak Tree pub which has now been demolished. We ran to the end of London Road and we sat at the light waiting to turn right onto the A34. We continued up to the pub and we parked up. We walked into the pub and Matthew had a brunch with oatcakes followed by toffee sponge pudding with ice cream. Whilst we ate highlights of the passing buses included First Potteries 35949 on a #101 to Stafford and ABC Supreme midicoach YA67 VBD heading towards the hospital. 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 and 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 had a can of Cherry Coke. We wrote the Blog and watch TV. Later on we dropped uncle Dave off back at home. We got in the car and we set off through Burton and we ran along Beaconsfield Drive. We turned left onto Church Street and left onto Blurton Road. We crossed over the A50 and we ran into Heron Cross lights. We turned left onto Grove Road and we ran forwards onto Wheildon Road. We dropped off uncle Dave and we ran back up Wheildon Road and forwards onto Grove Road. We turned right onto Blurton Road and we crossed over the A50. We ran through Blurton and at the roundabout we veered right onto Church Street. We turned right onto the A5035 and back to Blurton. Later on we did some more of the Blog. We chilled out on the sofa until bedtime around 00:00... Mark