Trip to Newcastle / Hanley 04-08-2023

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67157	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Newcastle BS	11	First Potteries
63116	Newcastle BS	Hanley BS	4	First Potteries
67153	Hanley BS	Fenton, Albert Square	23	First Potteries
63356	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Newcastle BS	11	First Potteries
35946	Newcastle BS	Newcastle, o/s The Cherry Tree	25	First Potteries

Today Matthew was returning to Blurton for the weekend. He was also going out on the bus and going to see grandma. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. After getting ready Matthew set off downstairs onto temple Street and cut through onto City Road. On the way to the bus stop we saw Afford rent-a-car HJ23 VGN parked up in Elsing Street.

Afford rent-a-car HJ23 VGN in Fenton

We continued to the bus stop and we waited for a bus towards Newcastle. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 67157 on a #11 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67157 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. We ran up the hill and into Hartshill and in the petrol station. 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 set off along Hassell Street and we visited Poundland. Matthew brought a can of Coke. We came out the shop and we stopped at the market stalls. Afterwards we set off along Hassell Street and back to the bus station. We waited for a bus towards Hanley. A short time later we saw a bus pull into the bus station. It was First Potteries 63116 on a #4 to Hanley.

First Potteries 63116 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Hanley before we sat down near to the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and onto Barracks Road. We crossed the Jubilee Roundabout and onto the A53. We ran into Basford and over the A500. We ran down into Etruria and over the A500. We continued along the A53 and we turned left onto Forge Lane. We ran out along the Lane and we crossed over the canal before we returned back into Etruria along festival Way. We crossed under the A53 onto Etruria Road. We turned right onto the ring road and we ran around anti-clockwise to Bethesda Street. We turned right onto John Street and we ran up the hill to the bus station. We got up and got off the bus. Matthew went to the toilet and after we headed across Lichfield Street and over the ring road. We stopped at Vebus Fish Bar and Matthew had sausage chips and beans washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished we crossed over the ring road and onto Lichfield Street. We went forwards onto Stafford Street and we cut into the shopping centre and into Primark. Matthew did some clothes shopping. Afterwards we set off across Market Square onto Tontine Street and we went forwards onto Lichfield Street and back to the bus station. We saw First Potteries 67173 on a #6 to Park Hall.

First Potteries 67173 in Hanley bus station

Once in the bus station we waited for a bus back towards Fenton. A few minutes later we saw First Potteries 67153 on a #23 to Newstead. 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. We turned left onto Station Road and past 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 where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 67153 before it continued on towards Newstead.

First Potteries 67153 in Fenton

We set off along Christchurch Street and we turned left onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. Matthew went upstairs to his room to chill out and wait for me to Arrive. Just after 15:00 mum dropped me off with Matthew and Matthew came downstairs onto Temple Street and we cut through to City Road. We waited for a bus towards Newcastle. We let First Potteries 67159 go, which was on a #23 to Hanley. A short time later we saw the bus approaching. AS it got closer we saw it was recent arrival from Leicester, First Potteries 63356 on a #11 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 63356 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. We ran up the hill and into Hartshill and in the petrol station. 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. We cot through onto Stubbs Street and we saw First Potteries 67179 on layover in between runs on the #99 to Chell Heath.

First Potteries 67179 in Newcastle bus station

We waited for a bus towards Grandma's house. A few minutes later we saw Stanton's of Stoke 815 DYE go past on Barracks Road. There was also a bus towards Hanley. We saw it was First Potteries 35947 on a #25 to Hanley.

First Potteries 35947 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to the hospital before we went upstairs and sitting down. 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 35947 as it continued towards Hanley.

First Potteries 35947 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 and we headed down Occupation Street. We turned left onto the A34. We continued southwards into Trent Vale past the site of a new Greggs. We continued through Trent Vale and we stopped at the pub. We walked into the pub and we sat down at our one our normal tables. Matthew had a brunch with oatcakes followed by toffee sponge pudding with ice cream. Highlights of the bus sightings included First Potteries 65029 on a #101 to Hanley and D&G BUs 44 running out of Service. Once we had finished eating we set off We carried on along the A34 and we turned left onto London Road. We headed through Oakhill and West End and we stopped at Sainsbury's to fill up with petrol. After filling up we got back onto LOndon Road and we went through West End and Oakhill to Trent Vale. We joined the A34 and we went through Hanford and into Trentham. We turned left onto the A5035. We crossed over the railway line and into Blurton. We got back around 19:30. Matthew chilled out on his computer and we sorted a few things out. Matthew also had a can of Dr Pepper. We wrote the Blog and sent a couple of e-mails. We chilled out on the sofa until bedtime around 00:00... Mark