Trip to Ellesmere Port / Chester 11-11-2023

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
10575	Ellesmere Port BS	Chester BS	1	Stagecoach Merseyside
26060	Chester BS	Blacon, The Arches School	14A	Stagecoach Merseyside
3142	Blacon, Blacon Parade	Chester BS	14	Arriva NW&W
36316	Chester BS	Huntington, Rake & Pikel	5	Stagecoach Merseyside
36317	Huntington, Rake & Pikel	Chester BS	5	Stagecoach Merseyside
36809	Chester BS	Kingsway, Pear Tree Way	53	Stagecoach Merseyside
36816	Plas Newton, Plas Newton Lane	Chester, Delamere Street (Stop 3)	51	Stagecoach Merseyside

Today we decided to revisit Ellesmere Port and Chester for the first time in a long time. Research consisted of checking what ticket we needed, Checking the car parking in Chester and checking the Weather, which was for dry cool weather with some sunshne. Matthew wokw up at 08:00 to have his medication and then got up around 09:30. We had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We got in the car and we set off around 11:20. We set off through Blurton 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 Tate YN67 VCX. We joined the Northboumnd M6 and we headed up to juncction 20. Travelling up the M6 we saw an unidentified new 73 plate white Mellor minibus, taxi minibus BX63 FGZ, grey minibus DG19 TVW, former Shearing coach BN17 JSV, ABC Supreme YA67 VBD, Frog's YB66 NBF, Selwyn's (NX) BX16 CKA(#540), an undidentified Jones coach and an unidentified Anderson Travel coach. We joined the Westbound M56 and we got onto the Northbound M53. We came off the M53 at junction 9 and we headed Westwards on the A5032. We turned left onto Cromwell Road and we followed the road to the right onto Wellington Road. We turned left onto Cambrdge Road and we went right onto McGarva Way. We turned right onto Grange Road and we parked up bear tio the Market. Once out of the car we saw white minibus SY58 UAG parked up.

SY58 UAG in Ellesmere Port

Matthew went into the market to use the toilet and I went to find a working parking ticket machine and afterwards we met back up in the foodhall. Matthew had a full English breakfast washed down with a bottle of Coke. After we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we set off on foot to the bus station. We turned right out of the Market and we walked past the shops and the former bus station which is now an office block. We turned right onto Civic Way and we approached the bus station. As we got there we saw a bus approaching. It was Stagecoach Merseyside 10575 on a #1 to Chester railway station.

Stagecoach Merseyside 10575 in Ellesmere Port bus station

We got on the bus and we booked Merseyside Dayrider Plus tickets at £5 each before we went sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station onto Wellington Road and we turned left onto Stanney Lane and we ran past The Grace Arms, which was a pub we used to eat at back when we first started to visit Ellesmere Port. We continued down the road for around 1/2 mile and then we turned left into the Coliseum Retail Park. We continued into the adjacent Cheshire Oaks designer outlet and we saw , an unidentified Woods coach and Milligan's MIL 1920 in the coach park. We got onto the A5117 and we ran Westwards to the A41. We ran South and where we would normally turn right we went straight on towards Chester Zoo. We turned into the zoo and we saw M & H Coaches M555 MNH parked up. We came back out of the Zoo and continued South down the A41 and we turned right onto Heath Road. We continued onto Mill Street and we joined the Southbound A5116. We ran into Chester and over the ring road onto Northgate. We turned left into Delamere Street. We continued down onto George Street and onto Gorse Stacks and into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew visited the toilet. We had a look around to see what we might catch. We saw Stagecoach Merseyside 36815 on a #53 to Kingsway.

Stagecoach Merseyside 36815 in Chester bus station

We decided to go on another bus quickly. We saw it was Stagecoach Merseyside 26060 on a #14A to Blacon.

Stagecoach Merseyside 26060 in Chester bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Stagecoach Merseyside Dayrider Plus to the driver before we saw down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Gorse Stacks and we ran onto George Street. At the end we turned right onto Northgate Street and we crossed over the ring road onto the A5116. We veered left on the one-way system and we ran forwards onto the A540. We ran past Chester University and we hit traffic as we got to the edge of town. At the roundabout we turned left onto Blacon Avenue. We travelled Westwards for around a mile and when we got to the shops we got up to get off the bus. We turned left onto Saughall Road where we got off the bus. We started to head back to the shops and we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 15535 on a #14 to Chester.

Stagecoach Merseyside 15535 in Blacon

We crossed over the road and we headed across the car park to the Parade. We visited Spar and we brought a can of Dr Pepper and some chocolate bars. Afterwards we went to Chatwins. We brought a Millionaires Shortbread and a bottle of Coke. We were heading to the bus stop to eat the millionaire's shortbread when we saw a bus turn the corner lnto Blacon Avenue. We saw it was Arriva NW&W 3142 on a #14 to Chester.

Arriva NW&W 3142 in Blacon

We got on it and we flashed the Stagecoach Merseyside Dayrider Plus tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Blacon Avenue and we had a long run of around 2/3 of a mile down to a roundabout. This part of the run was peppered with quite severe speed bumps which was doing us and the bus no good at all! We crossed the roundabout onto the A540 and we had another run of around 1/2 mile up to Liverpool Road. We ran around the one-way system and passed the former Stagecoach bus depot which is now student accomodation. We continued and into town along Northgate. We crossed over the ring road on Northgate and we turned left onto Delamere Street. We continued down onto George Street and onto Gorse Stacks and into the bus station. Once in the bus station we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew visited the toilet again. We sat down for a short while and Matthew ate the Millionaire's Shortbread. We had a look around to see what we might catch. We saw Stagecoach Merseyside 36319 on a #61 to Higher Kinnerton.

Stagecoach Merseyside 36319 in Chester bus station

We had a walk up the top end of the bus station. We saw Als Coaches CC21 ALS on a #22 to West Kirby.

Happy Als CC21 ALS in Chester bus station

We decided to catch something else fairly quick. We stood in the bus station and a short time later we saw a #5 bus. As it got onto the stop we saw it was Stagecoach Merseyside 36316 on a #5 to Wrexham.

Stagecoach Merseyside 36316 in Chester bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Stagecoach Merseyside Dayrider Plus to the driver before we saw down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Gorse Stacks and turned right into Frodsham Street. We stopped to take on more passengers and then we went forwards onto the A51. We travelled through Boughton and we ran forwards onto the A5115. We travelled through Boughton Heath. At the roundabout we turned right and we ran down Caldy Valley Road and we headed down the hill. We turned right follwing Caldy Valley Road and we turned left onto the B5130. We crossed over the North Wales Expressway and we ran onto the roundabout outside the Rake & Pikel. The was a short turning circle just off the roundabout and we pulled into there. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Merseyside 36316 as it continued towards Wrexham.

Stagecoach Merseyside 36316 in Huntington

Once off the bus we walked across to the pub. Matthew went to the toilet and I got the drinks in. Matthew had a glass of Coke. We sat in the corner and Matthew had his drink. When we had finished we went outside and we headed across to the stop on the turning circle.After quite a wait, we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Stagecoach Merseyside 36317 on a #5 to Chester.

Stagecoach Merseyside 36317 in Huntington

We got on the bus and we flashed the Stagecoach Merseyside Dayrider Plus to the driver before we saw down towards the back of the bus. We set off onto the B5130 and we crossed over the North Wales Expressway. We turned right onto Caldy Valley Road and we ran through the Caldy Valley estate. We turned left to follow Caldy Valley Road Northwards. We ran through Boughton Heath past Sainsbury's and we turned left onto the A5115. We ran forwards onto the A51 and we headed around The Bars roundabout onto City Road. We went past the railway station and we heded along Hoole Road to the roundabout. We crossed the roundabout onto Northgate and we turned left onto Delamere Street. We continued down onto George Street and onto Gorse Stacks and into the bus station. Once in the bus station we got up and got off the bus. In the bus station was M&H Coaches YJ71 GTU, on layover in between runs on the T8 service.

M&H Coaches YJ71 GTU in Chester bus station

We decided to do another quck out and back, so we waited for a #53. A short time later the bus appeared. It was Stagecoach Merseyside 36809 on a #53 to Kingsway.

Stagecoach Merseyside 36809 in Chester bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Stagecoach Merseyside Dayrider Plus to the driver before we saw down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Gorse Stacks and we turned left onto the A56. We ran North through Hoole and we turned left onto Newton Lane. We crossed over the bridge of an old disused railway line and then we turned right onto Kingsway. Just before the shops we turned left onto Coniston Road and we went to the end where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Merseyside 36809 as it continued around Kingsway.

Stagecoach Merseyside 36809 in Kingsway

Whilst travelling up I worked out we could get off and walk a couple of hundred yards and catc a #51 back to Chester. We continued along Coniston Road and we turned left onto Plas Newton Lane. We turned right onto Newhall Road and we stopped at the bus stop on the corner. Whilst we waited for the bus Matthew had a Crunchie. A short time later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Stagecoach Merseyside 36816 on a #51 to Chester.

Stagecoach Merseyside 36816 in Plas Newton

We got on the bus and we flashed the Stagecoach Merseyside Dayrider Plus to the driver for the final time today before we saw down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Newhall Road and we turned right onto Plas Newton Lane. We turned right onto Wealstone Lane and left onto Nestton Drive. We continued onto Thornton Drive and we turned right onto Ellesmere Avenue. Opposite to The Bear's Paw we turned left onto Dicksons Drive. We turned right onto Brook Lane and we crossed over the line to Birkenhead. We turned left onto Victoria Road and we ran down to St Oswald's Way. We headed Eastwards to the roundabout and we turned around 180' and entered the bus stion from the North Side before running onto Gorse Stacks. The bus stopped and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we took a few more bus pictures. Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Merseyside 36816 before it departed on a #53 to Kingsway.

Stagecoach Merseyside 36816 in Chester bus station

Another vehicle seen was Arrva NW&W 4545 on layover in between runs.

Arriva NW&W 4545 in Chester bus station

Mum had found a short term parking space on Gorse Stacks so we crossed over the road and walked to the car. Once at the car Matthew had a can of Irn Bru. We set off along gorse Stacks and we turned left onto Frodsham Street. We turned left onto St Oswald's Way and at the roundabout we turned right onto the A5116. We turned right onto Brook Lane and we crossed over the railway line. We turned right onto Kingsway West and we ran forwards onto Kingsway. We turned left onto Coniston Road and we turned right onto the car park. We parked up and I went to the chip shop. Matthew had sausage chips and gravy. When we had finished we set off out of the car park onto Coniston Road. We turned left on to Kingsway and right onto Essex Road. We turned left onto Thirlmere Road and right onto Mannings Lane South. We turned left on to the A56 and we headed Northwards. We crossed the A41 got onto the Northbound M53. At the next junction we got onto the eastbound M56. Near to Warrington we joined the Southbound M6 and we didn't see anything as we travelled Southwards in the dark. We stopped at Sandbach Services and we got out to use the toilet. We got back in the car and continued Southwards along the M6. At junction 16 we got onto the Southbound 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 and went inside. 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