Trip to Widnes / Runcorn 08-07-2023

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3040	Widnes, Green Oaks	Runcorn BS	110	Arriva NW&W
3136	Runcorn BS	Halton Lea North	3C	Arriva NW&W
2669	Halton Lea South	Runcorn BS	79C	Arriva NW&W
3023	Runcorn BS	Belle Vale, Sandbrook Road	79C	Arriva NW&W
4815	Belle Vale, Sandbrook Road	Netherley, Glebe Hey	79	Arriva NW&W
4442	Netherley, Glebe Hey	Childwall, Score Lane	79	Arriva NW&W
3023	Childwall, Score Lane	Widnes, Green Oaks	79C	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to revisit Widnes. We hadn't chosen anywhere to go by Saturday morning, so we let Matthew pick somewhere off the map and Matthew chose Widnes. Research for the trip consisted of looking at tickets on the Arriva webside and looking at the weather, which was for sunny weather with thunderstorms. Matthew got up at 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Mum video called one the the people she supports and Matthew sang them Happy Birthday and blew out candles on a cake, before eating the cake. Just before 12:00 we set off to pick up uncle Dave. 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. On the A500 we saw Sky Minibuses GX64 BJK. The road was quiet and we headed up to the M6. We joined the M6 and as we travelled Northwards we saw an unidentified Daish's Holidays coach, an unidentified Amans coach, an unidentified blue coach with Tottenham Hotspur on the side (88 NXD?) and an unidentifide Abbot's of Leeming coach. At junction 21A we got on the Westbound M62. Seen on the M62 was an unidentified pink van Hool double decker coach (party bus?). We came off the M62 onto the Southbound A557 and we ran into Widnes. We turned right to get Green Oaks Way. We past the entrance to the bus station and we turn ed left into the car park. We parked up and we set off over the bus station towards the market. In the bus station we saw Arriva NW&W 3159 on a #79C to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 3159 in Widnes

We went into the Market and Matthew went to the toilet. We went to the back end of the market and we stopped at the cafe. Mathew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Dr Pepper. We said goodbye to mum and we stopped at a sweet stall to pick up some sweets. Matthew had a bag of Spearmint Chews. We headed out of the market to catch a bus. I asked Matthew which direction he wanted to go in, and he chose to go towards Runcorn. Whilst we waited we saw Arriva NW&W 2903 on a #17 to Chain Lane.

Arriva NW&W 2903 in Widnes

As few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. On the opposite side of the road we saw Ashcroft's Travel HIG 8904 on a #26A Cronton circular service. The bus we were catching came around the corner and we saw it was Arriva NW&W 3040 on a #110 to Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 3040 in Widnes

We got on the bus and we booked Arriva Merseyzone Daysaver tickets at £4.60 before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off onto Green Oaks Way and we turned right onto Gerrards Street. We ran forwards onto Milton Road and we turned left onto the B5419. We went near to the site where are currently developing a new leisure centre on Moor Lane. We went through the old town and across the roundabout onto Victoria Road. We turned right onto Hutchinson Road and we joined the the A533. We crossed over the Jubilee Bridge. We crossed the bridge into Runcorn and we wheeled around onto Station Road and into the old town. We crossed over the canal and past 'The Archers' pub and onto the High Street. We turned into the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 3040 as it continued towards Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 3040 in Runcorn bus station

We waited at the bus station to see what we could catch next. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. AS it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 3136 on a #3C circular service.

Arriva NW&W 3136 in Runcorn bus station

We got on the bus and we placed the Liverpool Plus Duo Day tickets under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and we turned right and up the hill. We crossed the canal and we went under the A533. We turned left into Boston Avenue and we ran Eastwards. We turned left into Halton Brook Avenue and then we turned right into Halton Brook Avenue. We went forwards off Halton Brook Avenue on to Brackendale and after crossing over the B5155 onto Halton Lodge Avenue we turned left onto the busway. With Runcorn being radically different, there are three types of Roads. We ran under the A533 central expressway and into the Halton Lea shopping centre after I had walked down the stairs. We walked through the shopping centre and we went to the toilets. After we had used the toilets we headed over to the South side of the shopping centre where the Runcorn bound buses stop. A few minutes later we saw required Arriva NW&W 5002 on a X30 to Chester. Behind the was Ashcroft's Travel HIG 5674 on a #52 Beech circular.

Ashcroft's Travel HIG 5674 in Halton Lea

As it turner the corner we saw it was Arriva NW&W 2669 on a #79C to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 2669 in Halton Lea

We got on the bus and we placed the Liverpool Plus Duo Day tickets under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We sat down towards the back of the bus and we set off along the Busway. We carried on West onto Grangeway. We ran through Higher Runcorn and we turned right onto Clifton Road. We ran through onto Moughland Lane and we joined Greenway Road. We ran fast onto the A533 and we turned right over the canal onto Leiria Way and into Runcorn town centre. We arrived in the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2669.

Arriva NW&W 2669 in Runcorn bus station

We crossed over the road and we headed into the pub. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards we went to the bar to order a drink. We had a glass of Coke and we sat down to drink it. When we had finished we took our empty glasses back to the bar and we went outside and met up with uncle Dave. We went into the bus station to wait for another bus. Whilst waiting we saw Arriva NW&W 5008 on a #82A to Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 5008 in Runcorn bus station

A short time later we saw our bus approaching. As it turner the corner we saw it was Arriva NW&W 3023 on a #79C to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 3023 in Runcorn bus station

We got on the bus and we placed the Liverpool Plus Duo Day tickets under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out onto the High Street and we passed close to the Waterloo pub as was and we joined the A533. We crossed over the Mersey and we ran into the old town of Widnes up Victoria Road. We crossed over the roundabout and we ran through a bus lane into the Asda car park. We joined onto Gerrard Street past Marks & Spencers and we turned left onto Green Oaks Way. The bus filled up and got quite crowded. After a short wait we set off Northwards to the roundabout and we joined the Westbound B5178. We travelled around 2 miles and we crossed over the railway line near to Hough Green railway station. We were now out in open countryside and we ran fast along the B5178 into the village of Tarbock Green. It had now started to rain very heavily and as such people were shutting the windows. We continued West for around another mile into Netherley and we continued along the B5178 North Westwards for around another mile to Belle Vale. When we got into familiar surroundings and we saw the shopping centre. With the rain and the shut windows it was becoming quite unpleasant on the bus. We carroed on for a few more stops and then we decided to get up and get off the bus. Once off the bus we immediaely got into the bus shelter. I asked Matthew if he wanted to go on further or head back in the direction of Widnes and he chose the later. We crossed over the road and we sat in the stop for a few minutes. Matthew was eyeing up the Lidl so we decided to go into the supermarket. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards we brought a bottle of Cola and some Bakewell slices. We went outside to the bus stop and Matthew had one of the Bakewell Slices. Whilst we waited for a bus we spotted Arriva NW&W 4475 on a #79 to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4475 in Belle Vale

Matthew had a can of Irn Bru. We waited for a few more minutes and we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 4815 on a #79 to Netherley.

Arriva NW&W 4815 in Belle Vale

We got on the bus and we placed the Liverpool Plus Duo Day tickets under the scanner before we went upstairs asnd we sat down. We set off along the B5178 and we ran past the Bell Vale shopping centre. We continued South Eastwards and we followed the B5178 to the left and through the housing estate. We turned right onto Wood Lane and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we made a decision to go back West and head off a #79C back to Widnes. Before we crossed the road we saw Arriva NW&W 4474 on a #79 to Halewood.

Arriva NW&W 4474 in Netherley

We crossed the road and we waited for a Westbound bus. Whilst we waited Matthew had another Bakewell slice. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 4442 on a #79 to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4442 in Netherley

We got on the bus and we placed the Liverpool Plus Duo Day tickets under the scanner. The lower saloon was empty so Matthew took inside Arriva NW&W 4442.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4442

We went upstairs and Matthew took a picture inside of Arriva NW&W 4442 before we sat down.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4442

We set off along Wood Lane and we turned left onto the B5178. We ran through Belle Vale past the shopping centre and we continued past Lidl and under the railway line. We ran up the hill towards Childwall and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4442 as it continued towards Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4442 in Childwall

We crossed over the road and we waited for the bus back to Widnes. We had already seen on the map that it was going to be the bus we had earlier. A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching. It was Arriva NW&W 3023 on a #79C to Runcorn.

Arriva NW&W 3023 in Childwall

We got on the bus and we placed the Liverpool Plus Duo Day tickets under the scanner for the final time today before we sat down towards the front of the bus. The bus was very full and had to sit apart. We set off along the B5178 and we ran out of town. We went out into open countryside and we ran through Tarbock and over the A5300. We ran into Hough Green and we turned left onto Hough Green Road. We turned right onto Arley Drive and we ran though the estate. We turned left onto Hough Green Road and we we ran back down to the A5178. We passed Hough Green railway station and we ran through Ditton and into the West end of Widnes. We reached the roundabout and we turned right onto the road to the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we spotted Arriva NW&W 3049 on a #82A to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 3049 in Widnes

We crossed over the road. It had been the plan to take Matthew to the toilet, but the gents toilet was out of order and the disabled toilets were blocked off. I asked a member of staff and the directed me to a baby changing room that had no toilet in it. We went back to the car and the plan had been to take Matthew to a pub but it was raining really heavily. In the end we drove around to Morrisons and we parked up close to the shop and mum took him to the toilet. Afterwards we brought a cake. We returned to the car and we set off out of Morrisons onto Green Oaks Way. We did a u-turn at the roundabout and we headed Southwards onto Lugsdale Road. We stopped at the chip shop and we got Matthew had 2 small sausages chips and gravy. We turned around in Major Cross Street and we headed North up Lugsdale Street. We parked up at Widnes Shopping Park and Matthew ate his 2 small sausages, chips and gravy with a buttered bap that mum had bought earlier. When we had finished eating we we off onto Ashley Way and we joined the Northbound A557. We headed Northwards up to the motorway. We travelled North for around 3 mile before we turned right onto the Eastbound M62. Traveling back along the M62 we saw Arriva NW&W 2961. At junction 10 we got onto the Southbound M6 and we headed Southwards through Cheshire. On the M6 we saw an unidentified Just Go Holidays coach. At junction 16 we went South down the A500 through Longport and Etruria into Stoke. We came off the A500 and we diverted onto Wheildon Road. We dropped off uncle Dave and Matthew got out to use the toilet. He also had some of uncle Rob's Irn Bru. We updated uncle daves calendar to show recent activity. Once we had dropped off uncle Dave we set off onto Wheildon Road. 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 we turned right onto Church Road. We turned right onto the A5035 and we got back to Blurton around 20:00. 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 00:00... Mark