Trip to Birkenhead / West Kirby 24-06-2023

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4531	Birkenhead BS	West Kirby, (Stop B)	437	Arriva NW&W
HA21 ALS	West Kirby, (Stop B)	Heswall BS	22	Happy Als
4506	Heswall BS	Birkenhead,	472	Arriva NW&W
15748	Birkenhead BS	Arrowe Park Hospital	472	Stagecoach Merseyside
2972	Arrowe Park Hospital	Prenton,	413	Arriva NW&W
37127	Prenton,	Birkenhead BS	42	Stagecoach Merseyside

Today we decided to revisit Birkenhead. He had been telling his uncle that he was going to Birkenhead all week, so we decided that it was a good idea and we would go along with it. We did no research other than to check the weather, which was for dry warm weather with some sunshine. We already knew where we were going to park and eat and what tickets we would purchase. Matthew got up just after 07:00 this morning. Later on he had toast and orange juice. Mum returned home from work and after a short while we set off to pick up uncle Dave on the way. We set off approximatley 11:55. We got in the car and we ran along 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. Once we had picked up uncle Dave, we continued down Wheildon Road and we joined the Northbound A500. The road was quiet and we headed up to the M6. We joined the M6 and as we travelled Northwards we saw an unidentified Go Travel coach, Alfa A141, Attian AT18 ???, Lucky Seven AK17 UOM and Stanton's of Stoke 3093 RU. At junction 20 we got on the Westbound M56. On the M56 we saw an Strafford's SC09 ???. We joined the Northbound M53 and we headed up The Wirral. We came off the M53 at junction 4 and we headed Northwards up the B5151. We turned right onto Mount Road and left onto Borough Road. We turned right onto the A552 and we ran to the edge of town We turned left onto A5029 and we turned right onto Claughton Road. We ran to the end and we parked up in the car park opposite to Wilko and afterwards we walked across to the market. Before we went into the market we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 27255 on a #38 to West Kirby.

Stagecoach Merseyside 27255 in Birkenhead bus station

Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards we went further into the market and ew stopped at a cafe. Matthew had a breakfast ashed down with a small bottle of Coke. When we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we went out of the market. Matthew stood at the WEstern end of the bus station watching buses and I got the Saveaway tickets from the travel office. Afterwards we walked to the Eastern end of the bus station to see what we might catch. We saw Arriva NW&W 4518 on a #407 to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4518 in Birkenhead bus station

I asked Matthew where he wanted to go and he said West Kirby. A short time later we saw Arriva NW&W 2958 on a #487 to Ness Gardens.

Arriva NW&W 2958 in Birkenhead bus station

A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 4531 on a#437 to West Kirby.

Arriva NW&W 4531 in Birkenhead bus station

We decided to do this bus so we walked down the bus station and got on the bus. We placed the Walrus passes on the ticket machine and we went upstairs ans sat down. We set off out of the bus station and onto Conway Street. We ran North Westwards out of town and past the end of Dale Street near to Birkenhead Park railway station. We continued onto Laird Street past the Arriva depot and we turned left onto Mallby Street. We turned right onto Park Road North and we ran through Claughton. We continued onto Upton Road and we crossed over the M53 near to Upton railway station. We turnd right onto Ford Road and into Upton town centre. We continued out of the other side onto Old Greasby Road and forwards onto the B5139. We turned left onto Breasby Road and we ran through the village before re-joining the B5139. We continued throgh Frankby and Newtown and we ran forwards onto Greenbank Road. We past West Kirby football club and we turned left onto Anglesey Road before turning tight onto Bridge Road. We crossed over the railway line and we ran into town. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4531 as it continued towards Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4531 in West Kirby

In front of us was Al's Coaches SN57 DCO on a #22 to Chester. We crossed the road and we visited the Dee Hotel. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards we had a small glass of Coke. After we had finished we crossed the road and we saw A2B Travel SK10 AJR on a #81 West Kirby circular via Arrowe Park.

A2B Travel SK10 AJR in West Kirby

We sat in the shade under a tree to wait for the next bus. There was a #437 to Liverpool but he did not want to do this. I asked him what we wanted to do and he said he wanted to do the #22. There was an approximate wait of 30 minutes for the next #22. We sat under the tree and we waited for the next bus to arrive. The Als Coaches buses were not showing up on the map. As while later the bus appeared. It was A's Coaches HA21 ALS on a #22 to Chester.

Happy Als HA21 ALS in West Kirby

We got on and we put the Metro cards on the card reader before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along the A540 and we turned left onto Orrysdale Road. We ran forwards onto Anglesey Road and we turned sharp right by West Kirby football club. We ran along Greenbank Road and forwards onto the B5139. We passed through Newton and Frankby and we turned right onto Greasby Road. We ran through Greasby Road and forwards onto Arrow Road. We ran forwards onto Arrowe Brook Road before turning right onto the A551. We turnbed right into Arrowe park hospital and we stopped briefly before continuing South through Thingwall. We continued Southwards through Pensby and into Heswall. We turned left onto the A540 and left into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Happy Als HA21 ALS as it continued towards Chester.

Happy Als HA21 ALS in Heswall bus station

We walked over to the other side of the bus station and we had a choice of Al's Coaches CC21 HAL on a #22 to West Kirby. We saw an Arriva bus on stand. As we got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 4506 on a #472 to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4506 in Heswall bus station

We got on the bus and we placed the Walrus cards on the ticket machine before we went upstairs. The bus set off out of the bus station onto the Northbound A540. We turned right onto the B5138 passing Helms 135 running out of service. We ran through Pensby and up to Arrowe Park Road. We joined the Northbound A551 and by the Arrowe Park pub we followed the A551 to the left. We turned into Arrowe Park hospital and we stooped briefly to pick up passengers. We left the hospital and we ran Southwards back down the A551 to a roundabout. We went Westwards along the A552. We passed the Asda near to Woodchurch where they appear to be building a small building in the car park. We crossed over the M53 at junction 3 and we ran up the hill into Prenton. We continued alomg the A552 to the roundabout on the edge of town by Birkenhead Central railway station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4506 as it continued towards Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4506 in Birkenhead

We stood by the bus stop for a short while whilst we thought about what to do next. A short time later we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 10886 on a #38 to West Kirby.

Stagecoach Merseyside 10886 in Birkenhead

We decided to walk up to the bus stations. We set off around the corner onto Argyle Street and we stopped at the pub. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards had a glass of Coke. After we went outside and met up with uncle Dave. We continued along Argyle Street and we turned left onto Conway Street. We continued to the bus station and we waited for something we could catch. A short time later we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 15748 on a #472 to Heswall.

Stagecoach Merseyside 15748 in Birkenhead bus station

We got on the bus and we placed the Walrus cards on the ticket machine before we went upstairs. The bus set off out of the bus station onto Claughton Road. We turned left onto the A5029 and we turned right onto the A552. We ran through Prenton and we crossed over the M53. We coninued past Asda and we ran forwards into Arrowe Park hospital where we decided to get up and get off the bus. Once off the bus we had a look around. We saw Stagecoach Merseyside 15740 on layover.

Stagecoach Merseyside 15740 in Arrowe Park Hospital

Also seen was Stagecoach Merseyside 37127 on a #42 to Mill Park.

Stagecoach Merseyside 37127 in Arrowe Park Hospital

A short time later we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 37129 on a #17 to Moreton Cross.

Stagecoach Merseyside 37129 in Arrowe Park Hospital

A shirt time later we saw an Arriva bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 2972 on a #413 to Woodside.

Arriva NW&W 2972 in Arrowe Park Hospital

We got on the bus and we placed the Walrus cards on the ticket machine. As the bus was empty Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2972 before we sat down.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2972

We set off the hospital and we ran Southwards back down the A551 to a roundabout. We went Westwards along the A552. We passed the Asda near to Woodchurch where they appear to be building a small building in the car park. We crossed over the M53 at junction 3 and we ran up the hill into Prenton. We got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2972 as it carried on towards Birkenhead.

Arriva NW&W 2972 in Prenton

Once off the bus we went into Sainsbury and we brought a can of pop and a cake. We walked back to the bus stop to sit down and eat the cake. Whilst sitting down we saw a bus approaching. Matthew decided he was goinf to catch the bus. As it approached we saw it was Stagecoach Merseyside 37127 on a #42 to Mill Park. We got on the bus and we placed the Merseytravel cards on the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along the A552 and we ran out of Prenton towards Birkenhead. We continued along rh A552 past the Pyramids Shopping centre and we turned left onto Argyle Street. We turned left onto Conway Street and we veered left into the bus station. Once off the bus Matthew took a picture of Stagecoach Merseyside 37127 as it continued towards Mill Park.

Stagecoach Merseyside 37127 in Birkenhead bus station

We walked through the bus station and we went across the car park to the car. Matthew had a bottle of Diet Coke. We set off out of the car park onto Claughton Road and we turned right onto the A5029. We turned right onto Conway Street and we turned right onto the A552. We crossed over the roundabout in front of Birkenhead Central railway station and we got on the flyover onto the A41. We ran Southwards through the Wirral down through Tranmere and Bromborough and we joined the Southbound M53 at Hooton. We decided to stop at Sanbach services for a quick toilet stop. Before we headed into the service station we spotted a couple of coaches parked up. We saw Greenline BV72 XZP stopped at the services.

Greenline BV72 XZP in Sandbach Southbound

Another vehicles seen was Alan Davies Travel A2 ADT.

Alan Davies Travel A2 ADT in Sandbach Southbound

We headed into the service station and we bought a bottle of Dr Pepper for Matthew. Afterwards we returned to the car. We continued Southwards along the M6 and we came off at junction 16. We headed Southwards along the A500 to Talke and we joined the Southbound A34. We ran through Chesterton to Milehouse and we stopped at the milehouse chippy. Matthew had sausage chips and gravy. After I had eaten my food we re-joined the Southbound A34. We turned left onto Ryecroft and we saw Copeland's Tours MIB 537 returning from a day trip to Barmouth. We turned right onto Barracks Road and we saw First Potteries 67159 on a #25 to Keele. We turned left onto the 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 at Stoke and we veered off onto Whieldon Road and into Fenton. We dropped off uncle Dave and Matthew got out of the car to use the toilet, drink some of uncle Rob's Irn Bru and update his calendar. We got back in the car and we conrinued along Wheildon Road past the former Regent which is back up for sale. We ran forwards onto Grove Road and we saw green minibus R482 NDM parked up. We turned right onto Blurton Road and we crossed over the A50. We continued 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 and wrote an e-mail. Matthew ate a Cadburys Snack and we chilled out on the sofa until bedtime around 00:00... Mark