Trip to Newcastle / Biddulph 05-08-2023

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
63111	Blurton, Magdalen Road	Trentham, Man in Space	22	First Potteries
44514	Trentham, Man in Space	Stoke, stop R	21	First Potteries
35940	Stoke, stop Q	Newcastle BS	25	First Potteries
67151	Newcastle BS	Tunstall, stop A	99	First Potteries
63113	Tunstall, stop B	Burslem, Swan Bank	3A	First Potteries
67172	Burslem, Market Place	Newcastle BS	98	First Potteries
24	Newcastle BS	Penkhull, Thistley Hough	9	D&G Bus
110	Penkhull, Princes Road	Hanley BS	9	D&G Bus
67181	Hanley BS	Biddulph BS	7A	First Potteries
161	Biddulph BS	Hanley BS	9	D&G Bus
67152	Hanley BS	Blurton, Opp Ladybank Drive	23	First Potteries

Today we decided to stay local as mum was working and wasn't available to help out. Research consisted of checking the weather, which was for rain all day. Matthew got up around 09:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Around 10:30 we went to pick up uncle Dave. We set off through Blurton onto Finstock Avenue and we turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive. We turned left onto Church Road and left again 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 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. as we just missed a bus we went back to the house for 20 minutes or so to keep dry. We set off and walked to the bus stop all the way over on Magdalen Road, Whilst we waited we saw First Potteries 67148 on a #22 to Longton.

First Potteries 67148 in Blurton

A short time later the bus came around the corner. As expected we saw it was First Potteries 63111 on a #22 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 63111 in Blurton

We got on the bus and booked a Smart Day ticket at £3.50. This ticket is a multi-operator ticket valid throughout the North Staffordshire area. We sat down ear to the back of the bus and the bus set off onto the A5035. We went past the Trentham Hotel we turned right into New Inn Lane where we would be on this bus to Stoke. We got up to get off the bus at the man in Space and Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 63111 before it carried on to Newcastle.

First Potteries 63111 in Trentham

A short time later the bus appeared and it was First Potteries 44514 on a #21 to Hanley.

First Potteries 44514 in Trentham

We got on the bus and we placed our Smart Day ticket. As the bus was empty Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 44514 before we sat down.

Inside First Potteries 44514

The bus travelled through Trentham up New Inn Lane, We passed the building site where new housing is being built. At the top of the hill we turned right into Hanford along Wilson Road. We ran down Mayne Street before joining the Northbound A34. We crossed under the A500 and we saw First Potteries 67151 on #21 turn to Trentham. We turned onto London Road and we ran through Oak Hill past the former Oak Hill pub. We continued through the the West End before running into Stoke Town centre and Campbell Place. There was nothing of interest parked up in City cabs and we got up and got off the bus. We walked along Campbell Place and we crossed over the road. We turned into Church Street and we saw that our usual cafe was closed for a holiday! We walked back onto Campbell Place and we went to the London Grill. Matthew went to the toilet. Afterwards Matthew sat down and I ordered the food. Matthew had a full English breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. After we had finished eating we walked along Campbell Place and we turned rihght onto Church Street. We headede to the Newcastle bus stop as a bus was approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 35940 on a #25 to Keele.

First Potteries 35940 in Stoke

We got on the bus and we placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Church Street and off up the hill along Hartshill Road. We passed the Noah's Ark pub and Just after the pub we turned left by the Co-operative Food store and we headed to the hospital. We bounced our way through the hospital grounds over the severe speed bumps and we joined the North bound A34. We went around the roundabout at the bottom end of Newcastle and we turned right onto Barracks Road before entering the bus station from the Southern end. We got up and got off the bus and we had a look around to see what we might catch. We saw First Potteries 63098 on a #98 to Ball Green.

First Potteries 63098 in Newcastle bus station

A few minutes later we saw another bus approaching. As it came on stand we saw it was First Potteries 67151 on a #99 to Chell Heath.

First Potteries 67151 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we place the Smart Day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and onto Barracks Road. We crossed the Jubilee roundabout onto the A527 and headed through Wolstanton. As we travelled North up the road we passed First Potteries 63346 on a #98 to Newcastle. We turned right onto Porthill Bank and we we went down the hill and over the A500. We went through Middleport where we saw some goats in an enclosure by the road. We continued up the road and at Trubshaw Cross we went left onto Brownhills Road. We joined Tunstall High Street and at the top of the Road we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 67151 before it carried on towards Chell Heath.

First Potteries 67151 in Tunstall

We walked towards the Tunstall cafe, and that too was closed for a holiday! We decided to go around the corner and visit Wrights Pies. We picked up a Manchester tart and a can of Coke. We crossed over the road to wait for a bus. Across the road we saw First Potteries 63356 on #3 to Crewe.

First Potteries 63356 in Tunstall

We had a while to wait so after Matthew had eaten his Manchester tart we had a walk around the block. We set off down the High Street and we turned left onto The Boulevard. We turned left onto Scotia Road and we saw Stanton's of Stoke 7239 VT on a #90 to Ball Green. We turned sharp left at the roundabout and back onto the High Street. A few minutes 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 Tunstall

We got on the bus and we placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We went down the High Street and we turned left into Williamson Street. We turned right into Scotia Road and we ran into Burslem town centre. We decided to get off in Burslem and catch something towards Newcastle so we got up and got off the bus at Swan Bank. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 63113 as it carried on towards Hanley.

First Potteries 63113 in Burslem

We crossed over the road and we walked along Market Place to the bus stop to wait for something going down the hill. We had about 10 minutes to wait and we sat and looked at the former NatWest bank which is going to be a cafe. A short time later we saw the bus approaching. We saw it was First Potteries 67172 on a #98 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67172 in Burslem

We got on the bus and we placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We went down the Moorland Road and we continued through Burslem to Longport and over the A500 and up Porthill Bank. We turned left at the roundabout and we ran through Wolstanton and May Bank into Newcastle. We crossed the Jubilee roundabout and we ran down Barracks Road and into Newcastle. We crossed the roundabout onto Barracks Road and we entered the bus station. We got up and got off the bus. We had intended to go across to The Jolly Potter to have a drink, but this is temporarily closed for refurbishment. Matthew used the toilet by the bus station instead. Afterwards we had a look around to see what we could catch. We saw First Potteries 65034 on a #101 to Hanley.

First Potteries 65034 in Newcastle bus station

A shoirt time later another bus came in. We saw it was D&G Bus 24 on a #9 to Biddulph.

D&G Bus 24 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Barracks Road. We ran Southwards onto the A34. We turned left into the hospital and we ran through the the grounds. We turned right onto Hilton Road. At the roundabout we went left onto Newcastle Lane and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of D&G Bus 24 as it carried on towards Biddulph.

D&G Bus 24 in Penkhull

Once off the bus we walked into the centre of Penkhull and we went to the pub. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards had a glass of Coke. When we had finished we went outside and onto Princes Street. There wasn't a bus for about 20 minutes so we startd to walk towards Hartshill. We stopped at the other end and we waited for a bus there. A short time later we saw D&G Bus 161 on a #9 to Clayton.

D&G Bus 161 in Penkhull

A few minutes later we saw our bus approaching. As approached we saw it was D&G Bus 110 on a #9 to Biddulph.

D&G Bus 110 in Penkhull

We got on the bus and we placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We went down the Princes Street. At the end of the road we turned right onto the A52 and we ran down into Stoke. We passed through Church Street and the bus topped in the town centre. After a brief stop we continued over the A500. after running under the railway line we followed the A52 around to the left running parallel to the railway line. We then turned left onto to station Road. railway station and due to roadworks we ran to the end of Station Road and turned right. We ran up Stoke Road and we turned right onto Avenue Road. At the roundabout we turned left onto College Road and we ran up the hill through Shelton. We continued onto Cleveland Road and we turned left onto Bethesda Street. We crossed over the ring road and we continued along Bethesda Street before turning right onto John Street. We ran up the hill into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus. Matthew went to the toilet nd afterwards we waited for a bus to Biddulph. A short time later the bus came on stand and we saw it was First Potteries 67181 on a #7A to Biddulph.

First Potteries 67181 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus waited for time before setting off out of the bus station. We went down John Street and onto Bethesda Street before we went across onto Marsh Street and then we turned right into Trinity Street. We turned left into Stafford Street and we continued forwards to Quadrant Road and we left Hanley along Town Road past the Tesco Express store. We travelled through Sneyd Green and over Smallthorne roundabouts to Chell. At the roundabout we turned right and we ran down the A527 through Brindley Ford. We turned left to run through Brown Lees. We crossed over the A527 at Knypersley and we ran around through the housing estates of Biddulph before running into town via St John's Road, Colliers Way. We ran past the building site and we turned right up Wharf Road to the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 67181 before it returned to Hanley on the next #7A.

First Potteries 67181 in Biddulph bus station

Once off the bus we walked around the cornber onto the High Street and we visited the Royal Oak pub. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards we had a glass of Coke each. We went further down the High Street and we stopped at the kebab house. We brought a couple of portions of fries and a couple of cans. We walked back up the High Street and into Wharf Road. We sat on the bench and Matthew ate his fries washed down with a can of Dr Pepper. Whilst we were there we saw unidentfied white coach YN07 KHC. After we had finished eating we stood at the stop and waited for the bus back to Hanley. A short time later we saw the bus approaching. It was D&G Bus 161 on a #9 to Hanley.

D&G Bus 161 in Biddulph bus station

We got on the bus and we placed the Smart Day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off onto the High Street and we turned left at the roundabout onto St John's Road. We ran around the estate and we crossed over the A527 and we ran down through Brindley Ford into Fegg Hayes. We turned left onto Oxford Road and we ran forwards into Chell Heath. We passed Matthew's old school site which is going to be a new sheltered housing site. We ran through Bradeley to the traffic lights. We turned right and we ran up the hill through Smallthorne and right again onto Ford Green Road past the pub which which is not going to be a new Wetherspoons pub. At the top of the hill we turned left onto the A5272 and into Hanley. We ran into town along Town Road and we crossed over the ring road. We turned right onto Quadrant Road and we went under the Intu Potteries shopping centre. We ran forwards onto Stafford Street and we passed the town hall. We ran along Bagnall Street and into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus and Matthew used the toilet. We had 20 minutes to wait so we went towards the shop but it was shut. We went outside and we saw First Potteries 33829 on a B2 from the BET365 stadium.

First Potteries 33829 in Hanley bus station

At this point Matthew ran at someone to say hello and held their hand. Don't run at people Matthew. We walked around the outside of the bus station and we sat at the stand for the bus back to Blurton. Whilst we waited we saw Maynards M16 YDS on the ring road. The bus came on stand and we saw it was First Potteries 67152 on a #23 to Newstead.

First Potteries 67152 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we placed the Smart Day under the scanner for the final time today. As the bus was empty Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 67152 before we sat down.

Inside First Potteries 67152

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 and we ran under the railway line. After climbing up the hill into Fenton we turned right into Christchurch Street and we continued onto Station Bridge Road. We ran forwards onto Heron Street and we went through the traffic lights onto Blurton Road. After crossing over the A50 we continued through Blurton. We turned right onto Church Road and right onto Beaconfield Drive. We ran to the other end and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew got another picture of First Potteries 67152 before it continued towards Newstead.

First Potteries 67152 in Blurton

Once off the bus we set off back to the house. Matthew had a can of Fanta orange and we wrote some of the Blog and wrote an e-mail. We also put some pictures u on Flickr. Matthew went to bed around 01:00... Mark.