Trip to Hanley / Newcastle 24-11-2023

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67147	Hanley BS	Fenton, Travers Court	11	First Potteries
63356	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Newcastle BS	11	First Potteries
33829	Newcastle BS	Newcastle, o/s Cherry Tree PH	25	First Potteries

Today Matthew was going back to Blurton. He was also going out on the bus and going to visit Grandma. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had his medication. For breakfast Matthew had toast and orange juice. In the morning we went to Hanley in a Lucky Seven taxi.We went downstairs and we got in the taxi and we set off onto Temple Street. We turned left onto Christchurch Street and we crossed City Road on Manor Street. We ran to the end and we turned left onto Victoria Road. We ran across the roundabout at Joiners Square and we stopped at the Emma Bridgewater factory. Matthew went intside and visited the Factory Shop. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards we went to the cafe and Matthew had a can of Coke and chocolate cake. When we had finished we set off up Lichfield Street and we crossed the ring road before going to the bus station. We waited for a bus back to Fenton. A short time later we saw a bus arrive on stand. We saw it was First Potteries 67147 on a #11 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67147 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Newcastle. we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off onto John Street and we turned left onto Bethesda Street. We turned left onto the ring road and left onto Lichfield Street and we turned right onto Birch Terrace. We followed the road around onto Charles Street and we turned right onto Old Hall Street. We crossed over the ring road onto Bucknall New Road. We ran down the hill through Limekiln lights and we turned right onto Dividy Road. We turned left onto Beverley Drive and due to a diversion we came back down beverley Drive and left onto the A5272 and up to Adderley Green. At the roundabout we turned right onto Anchor Road. system onto Commerce Street and right onto The Strand. After a brief stop we ran down the Strand and under the railway line onto King Street. We continued down through Fenton and forwards onto City Road. We went past the site of the new Burger King. We conrinued down to the flats where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we went o nto Smothpool Road and we stopped at the chip shop to pick up dinner. We walked along Smithpool Road and turned right onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. We went upstairs ans Matthew had his dinner. He hda sausage chips and gravy washed down with a can of Coke. Matthew went to his room to chill out and wait for me to arrive. Whilst waitimg we saw Stanton's of Stoke new minibus VT73 SOS. We turned up around 15:00 and Matthew came downstairs. We cut through onto City Road and walked down to the bus stop by the flats. Whilst we waited for the bus to Newcastle we saw First Potteries 67157 on a #23 to Hanley.

First Potteries 67157 in Fenton

A few miniutes later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was 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. Near to the roundabout we saw PO Lloyd BV20 HPP. We ran forwards onto George Street and we ran down the hill into Newcastle. We turned left at the roundabout onto Barracks Road passing Leons 247 going the other way. We turned right into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we saw 2 buses that were heading in the right direction. We saw First Potteries 35949 on a #25 to Keele. Another bus came on stand and it was First Potteries 33829 on a #25 to Hanley.

First Potteries 33829 in Newcastle bus station

The new wer double decker pulled off before we got to it, but the other one was still there. We got on the bus and we booked to the hospital before we went upstairs and sat 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 33829 as it continued towards Hanley.

First Potteries 33829 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 Victoria Street. We turned left onto the A34. We continued southwards into Trent Vale. 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 67175 on a #101 to Stafford. Once we had finished eating we set off We carried on along the A34 through Hanford and into Trentham where we saw ABC Supreme YA67 VBD heading Northwards. We turned left onto the A5035. We crossed over the railway line and into Blurton. We got back around 19:00. Matthew chilled out on his computer and we sorted a few things out. Matthew also had a can of Cherry Coke and a couple of slices of brioche bread. We wrote the Blog and sent a couple of e-mails. We chilled out on the sofa until bedtime around 00:00... Mark