Trip to Bradford / Odsal 18-08-2023

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67154	Fenton, Royal Oak	Hanley BS	23	First Potteries
44511	Hanley BS	Fenton, Victoria Place	6A	First Potteries
69473	Bierley, Sheldon Ridge	Bradford Interchange	620	First West Yorkshire
37088	Bradford Interchange	Odsal, Hatton Close	682	First West Yorkshire
37095	Odsal Top	Bradford (stop M2)	682	First West Yorkshire
69568	Bradford Interchange	Bierley,	621	First West Yorkshire

Today was the first day of a weekend break in Yorkshire. Matthew was also returning to Blurton later in the weekend. Matthew got up around 08:00 and toast and orange juice for breakfast. In the Morning Matthew went to get a new pair of glasses. We set off downstairs on foot to the bus stop. We went onto Temple Street and we turned left onto Christchurch Street. We waited for a bus towards Hanley. A short time later we saw the bus approaching. 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 sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Christchurch Street. We turned left onto 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 Steet 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 and and turned right. We ran up Stoke Road and we turned right onto Avenue Road. At the roundabout we turned left 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 before we turned right onto John Street. Once in the bus station we got up and got off the bus. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards we saw First Potteries 63358 on a #7A to Biddulph. A short time later the bus came on stand. We saw it was First Pottereies 44511 on a #6A to Blythe Bridge.

First Potteries 44511 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. Once off the bus we set off on foot up Victoria Road and we went sharp right onto City Road. We turned left onto Smithpool Road. We stopped at the chip shop and we picked up some dinner. We set off on foot alog Smithpool Road and we turned right onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. We went upstairs and Matthew had sausage chips and gravy for dinner washed down with a can of Cherry Coke. Around 13:00 we came to pick Matthew up. We got in the car and we set off onto Temple Street. We turned right onto Smithpool Road and we turned left onto City Road. We ran forwards ontoChurch Street and we we around the one-way system. We turned left onto London Road and we stopped at Sainsbury's to put diesel in the car. Once we had filled up with petrol we set off onto London Road and we continued onto the one-way system. We turned left onto Church Street and we ran forwards onto Hartshill Road. We turned left onto The Avenue and right onto Parkstone Avenue. We turned left onto Occupation Street and we stopped at Grandma's house. Matthew had a can of Irn Bru and 2 rounds of toast. Matthew chilled out and used grandma's computer. Around 14:30 we set off to pick up uncle Dave on the way to Bradford. We got in the car and we set off onto Occupation Street. We turned right onto Parkstone Avenue and left onto The Avenue. We turned right onto the A52 and we continued down into Stoke and around the one-way system. We crossed over the A500 and we turned right onto Whieldon Road. We stopped to pick up uncle Dave and we set off back onto Wheildon Road and onto the Northbound A500. We headed up to the M6. Seen on the A500 was white coach YN06 CJF. We joined the Northbound M6 and progress was slow due to an earlier incident and Friday afternoon traffic. On the M6 we saw Travelling up the M6 we saw Hills coaches BU18 YNP, an unidentified Ava Coach coach, Megabus 54263, taxi minibus ND67 CYU 3 Shearings coaches, a Barnes coach, Baker Dolphin gold coach. We ran up to junction 21A and we joined the Eastbound M62. We joined the clockwise M60 and we ran forwards onto the Eastbound M62 and Seen on the M62 was taxi minibus PO67 ECE At junction 26 we joined the M606. Seen on the M606 was Acklams YX72 LVC. We turned right onto Merrydale Road and left onto Roydsdale Way and we parked up at the hotel. We checked into the hotel and we headed up to our rooms. We set up the computer and put battreies on charge, and we had a snack and a drink. Matthew had a pack of Frazzles and a cup of Cherry Coke. Just after 17:00 we said goodbye to mum and we headed onto Roydsdale Way. We turned right onto Merrydale Road and we saw TLC 2482 on a #606 to Bradford stopped. We crossed over the road but we didn't get to the bus quick enough before it pulled off. We walked forwards onto NCN route 66 and we came out onto Rockhill Lane. We turned left onto Bierley Lane and we stopped at the stop by the turning circle. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First West Yorkshire 69473 on a #620 to Heaton.

First West Yorkshire 68473 in Bierley

We got on the bus and we brought WY Daysaver tickets at £4.50 each before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Brierley lane and we turned right into Shetcliffe Lane and we turned left onto Ferrand Avenue. We turned left onto Burnham Avenue and we ran up to the A6177. We headed North Eastwards and at the roundabout we joined the Northbound A650. We turned left onto Croft Street and we turned back on ourselves and under Croft Street into Bradford Interchange where we got up and got off the bus. We had a look around to see what we might catch. We went to the West end of the Interchange to see what was around. We saw First West Yorkshire 37088 on a #682 to Halifax.

First West Yorkshire 37088 in Bradford

Also seen was First West Yorkshire 35656 running out of service.

First West Yorkshire 35656 in Bradford

We went in the bus station and we had decided that we wuld do one of the older First double deckers. It just happened to be that it was First West Yorkshire 37088 which had done a lap of the interchange and came on stand. We got on the bus and we placed the WY Daysaver ticket on the scanner before going upstairs and sitting down. We set off out of the interchange and onto Croft Street. We Crossed over the A641 on Senior Way and we turned left onto Little Horton Lane. We ran past the Hospital and we turned left onto Thornton Lane and we ran down to the A6177. We headed Eastwards before turning right onto the Southbound A641. We ran down to Odsal and at the roundabout we turned right onto Halifax Road where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First West Yorkshire 37088 in Odsal as it carried on towards Halifax.

First West Yorkshire 37088 in Odsal

Across the road was KFC, and Matthew hadn't eaten for a while, so we decided to go across to KFC and sahre a boneless box meal. We had chicken popcorn, chicken strips, fries and gravy which Matthew washed down with a cup of Coke. When we had finished eating, Matthew went to the toilet before we went outside. We crossed over the B6380 and we saw a First double decker on the #645 to Greengates. We walked swiftly down the on ramp of the A641 to the bus stop expecting the #645 to be next. As soon as we got to the stop we saw a different double decker approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First West Yorkshire 37095 on a #682 to Bradford.

First West Yorkshire 37095 in Odsal

We got on the bus and we presented the WY Daysaver tickets under the scanner before we went upstairs and sat down. We set off Northwards up the A642 and we ran onto the guided busway. We crossed over the ring road and we continued into town along the guided busway. We turned right int Croft Street and we turned left onto Bridge Street and past the railway station. We turned into the Interchange and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus, a quick check of the display board told up that we had 26 minutes until the next #621 to Bierley. We went to the end of the Interchange and we watch buses for a while. We saw First West Yorkshire 37364 on a #576 to Halifax.

First West Yorkshire 37364 in Bradford Interchange

A shotr time later we saw new arrival First West Yorkshire 36311 on a #576 to Halifax.

First West Yorkshire 36311 in Bradford Interchange

We went back inside the Interchange and we sat down for a short time to wait for our bus. A short time later it arrived on stand. It was First West Yorkshire 69568 on a #621 to Bierley.

First West Yorkshire 69568 in Bradford Interchange

We got on the bus and we placed the WY Daysaver ticket on the scanner for the final time today before sitting down towards the back of the bus. I called mum to say that we were on the way and we arranged to meet at the chip shop. We set off out of the interchange and we turned right onto Bridge Street. We turnd left onto Croft Street and we turned right onto the Southbound A650. We travelled for around a mile or so before turning right onto New Hey Road. We turned right onto Brassey Road and left onto Paley Road. We turned left onto Bowling Hall Road and we ran up the hill. We turned left onto the A6177 and we wen to the roundabout before turning 180' and heading West. At the roundabout we turned left onto Bierley Lane and we ran to the turning cicle at the bottom where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First West Yorkshire 69568 before it returned North towards Heaton.

First West Yorkshire 69568 in Bierley

We sat on the wall and we waited for mum to come down the lane from Asda. When mum arrived, We jumped into the car. We set off down Bierley Lane and we turned right onto Rockhill Lane. We turned left onto Wharfdale Road. We turned right onto Merrydale Road and left onto Roydsdale Way and we parked up at the hotel. We went upstairs and we had ham and cheese sandwiches, an egg custard and a kitkat washed down with a cup of Cherry Coke. We wrote e-mails and did some of the Blog. We chilled out in the room watching televisions before going to bed around 23:00... Mark