Trip to Ellesmere Port / Chester 16-03-2024

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
27777	Ellesmere Port BS	Chester BS	2	Stagecoach Merseyside
4481	Chester BS	Shotton, Deeside Retail Park	11	Arriva NW&W
3145	Shotton, Chester Road West	Garden City, Post Office	10	Arriva NW&W
4643	Garden City, Post Office	Wepre, War Memorial	10	Arriva NW&W
2685	Wepre, War Memorial	Queensferry, Station Road Q4	10A	Arriva NW&W
4540	Queensferry, Solar Services	Chester BS	11	Arriva NW&W

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 12:00. 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 past the former Coral shop which is new going to be flats. 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 AJS Passenger Travel AJ54 BUZ, Rothwells RIB 4404 / FJ06 ZKU, Alpine ??23 ?? and grey minibus BP72 VFT. We joined the Northboumnd M6 and we headed up to juncction 20. Travelling up the M6 we saw Eavesway EV62 WAY, silver taxi minibus reg like SM13 KSV, Selwyns BV67 JXY(#540), Bakers Dolphin BD14 GLD, Little Mick's Knights HY67 FCG, Lochs and Glens SJ22 GZG, 33??? E400 ex first and white coach. We joined the Westbound M56 and we passed the site of a new McDonalds. 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 near to the Market. Once out of the car we saw grey minibus CX73 ZKW parked up.

CX73 ZKW in Ellesmere Port

Behind this we saw brown minibus DA22 KWF.

DA22 KWF in Ellesmere Port

We walked into the market and Matthew went to the toilet. We met up with mum and uncle Dave and Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a bottle of Coke. Once we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we walked out of the market. We walked along Wellington Road past the site of the old bus station where they have now built an office building. In the distance we saw Arriva NW&W 4640 on a #5 to Mold. We turned right onto Civic Way and we waited for a bus towards Chester. Whilst we waited we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 27901 on a #6 to Little Sutton.

Stagecoach Merseyside 27901 in Ellesmere Port bus station

A short time later we had 2 buses to choose from. The first bus was Stagecoach Merseyside 10882 on a #1 to Chester. As we were considering doing this another bus turned up. We saw it was Stagecoach 27777 on a #2 to Chester.

Stagecoach Merseyside 27777 in Ellesmere Port bus station

We got on the bus expecting to pay, but the ticket machine was broken and we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off onto of the bus station onto Wellington Road and we turned right onto Stanney Lane and we turned left onto the A5032 traveling Southwards. We turned right onto Overpoll Road and we weaved through the estate before we came out on the A41. We traveled South before turning right onto the A5116. We passed the Countess of Chester hospital and we ran into town 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. We saw Stagecoach Merseyside 15567 on a #84 to Crewe.

Stagecoach Merseyside 15567 in Chester bus station

Matthew went to the toilet. Afterwards he went into the cafe and had a slice of Victoria sponge and a can of Coke. On layover in between service was M & H Coaches SK18 TKD.

M & H Coaches SK18 TKD in Chester bus station

We had already decided that we were going to do an Arriva bus. Whilst we chose what we were going to catch we saw Arriva NW&W 2665 on a #4 to Mold.

Arriva NW&W 2665 in Chester bus station

Also seen was Stagecoach Merseyside 44026 on a staff shuttle service.

Stagecoach Merseyside 44026 in Chester bus station

We crossed over the other side of the bus station to wait for a bus towards Wales. Whilst we waited we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 10573 on layover in between runs on the X1 to Liverpool.

Stagecoach Merseyside 10573 in Chester bus station

We saw the arrive on the bus station. It went on layover for a short while and then came on stand. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 4481 on a #11 to Holywell.

Arriva NW&W 4481 in Chester bus station

We got on and we bought Arriva Chester Plus Day Saver tickets before we went upstairs and sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Gorse Stacks and turned right into Foregate Street. We went past a new adult gaming centre which appears to being built by the old betting shop. We turned right onto Love Street. We continued onto Lower Bridge Street and we turned left onto Old Dee Bridge into Handbridge. We continued onto Overleigh Road and we crossed the A483. After we had passed the Sealand turning the traffic was better and we went over the dee towards Wrexham. We turned onto the A51054 and we went through Lache and up to Broughton via Saltney. After calling into the busy Broughton Shopping Park we continued onto Hawarden. We turned right and we headed a mile or so down the hill past the garden centre and into Queensferry. We crossed under the A494 and we turned left by Asda. A couple of stops towards Shotton. We passed the leisure centre. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took a picture of Arriva NW&W 4481 as it continued towards Holywell.

Arriva NW&W 4481 in Shotton

Once off the bus we went to the petrol station. Matthew had a bottle of Irn Bru and some chocolate bars. We crossed over the road to the bus stop opposite. Matthew had his Galaxy Caramel and me and uncle Dave shared a Wispa Duo. We headed towards the centre of Shotton. We went under the railway line and we went into Wetherspoons. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards we had a drink of Coke. When we had finished we went outside and walked to the nearest bus stop. We saw Arriva NW&W 2685 on a #10 to Connah's Quay. Whist we waited for an Arriva bus we saw P & O Lloyd YJ68 FSC on a #1 Deeside Shuttle.

P & O Lloyd YJ68 FSC in Shotton

A short time later we saw a bus apporoaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 3145 on a #10 to Chester.

Arriva NW&W 3145 in Shotton

We got on thebus and we placed the Arriva Chester Plus Day Saver tickets under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along the B5129 passed under the railway at Shotton and we continued to Quensferry. We turned left into Station Road and we followed the road around onto Wales Coast Path and we continued to Garden City. Where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 3145 as it carried on towards Chester.

Arriva NW&W 3145 in Garden City

We crossed over the road and we can see a double decker in the bus station in the distance. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 4643 on a #10 to Connah's Quay.

Arriva NW&W 4643 in Garden City

We got on the bus and we placed the tickets under the scanner before we went upstairs and sat down. We set off the B5441 past a new housing estate. We carried on to into Queensferry. We crossed under the A494 and we turned left by Asda. A couple of stops towards Shotton. We continued into Wepre and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we saw grey minibus NK69 DYA. We walked past the site of a new Lidl and Costa Coffee. We crossed over the road and we waited for a bus back towards Chester. A short time later we saw a single decker approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 2685 on a #10A to Chester.

Arriva NW&W 2685 in Wepre

We got on the bus and we placed the Arriva Chester Plus Day Savers under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along the B5129 out of Wepre and we passed under the railway at Shotton and we continued to Quensferry. We turned left into Station Road where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2685 as it carried on towards Chester

Arriva NW&W 2685 in Queensferry

Once off the bus we walked along B5441 and we crossed over the road and onto the B5129. We walked to the stop near to the A494 roundabout and we waited for a bus towards Chester. We did not have to wait long before a bus appeared. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 4540 on a #11 to Chester.

Arriva NW&W 4540 in Queensferry

We got on the bus and we flashed the Group day Saver ticket to the driver before we sat down upstairs. We set off Southwards down the A550 and we passed under the A494. We ran up the hill into Hawarden and we turned left onto the B5125. We ran Eastwards towards BroughtonWe joined the A5104 and we entered the Bfrought Shopping Park onto the Eastbound A5104 and we passed through Salntey and into Lache. We entered England and Chester and at the big roundabout we turned left onto Grosvenor Road. We crossed over the River Dee and at the roundabout we ran forwards onto Nicholas Street. We ran arounf to the North end of town and we turned right onto Upper Northgate Street. We turned left onto Delamere Street and we followed the road around onto George Street and we ran forwards onto Gorse Stacks. We pulled in to the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 15585 on a #84 to Crewe.

Stagecoach Merseyside 15585 in Chester bus station

We walked through the bus station and we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 26061 on a #16 to Saltney.

Stagecoach Merseyside 26061 in Chester bus station

We headed to the car but Matthew needed the toilet so we dropped the bag off at the car and we crossed over Frodsham Street to the pub. Matthew used the toilet and afterwards we had a glass of Coke. When we had finished we returned to the car. Wwe set off along Gorse Stacks and we turned left onto Frodsham Street. Something didn't sound right on the car so we turned left onto the ring road. We turned right onto the A5116 and we ran forwards onto the A540. We ran to a garage and we put some air into one of the tyres. It appeare to take air reasonable well so we decided to return caustiously along the A540 back towards Chester. We turned left onto the ring road and we joined the A51. We ran out of the city the Piper's Ash amd we crossed over the A55 just East of Chester and we continued along the Eastbound A51. We turned right to bypass Tarvin and we continued Eastwards along the A51. We turned right and headed Southwards down the A49. We continued past the A51 junction and we turned left onto School Lane and we ran into Bunbury. We stopped in the villge and we went to the chip shop. Once Matthew got his sausage chips and gravy washed down with a bottle of Irn Bru. We ran forwards Vicareage Lane and we stopped at the pub. We went inside and Matthew used the toilet. Afterwards Matthew had a glass of Coke. When we had finished we headed back to the car and we saw grey minibus PL10 RYO parked up in the car park.

PL10 RYO in Bunbury

We got in the car and we set off along Vicarage Lane. We ran forwards onto Bowe's Gate Road and we ran through Gosland Green. We joined the A51 and we passed the site of a new Shell petrol station where work has statrted. We continued Nantwich by-pass and we ran around the North side of town and we joined the A500. We crossed under the M6 and we continued through Longport and Etruria into Stoke and we forgot to come off the A500 for uncle Dave. We joined the Eastbound A50 and we headed up to Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and left onto Grove Road and we ran into Fenton. We dropped off uncle Dave on the main road and we ran up Wheildon Road and forwards onto Grove Road. We turned right onto Blurton Road and we crossed over the A50. We ran through Blurton and at the roundabout we veered right onto Church Street. We turned right onto the A5035 and back to Blurton. Later on we did some more of the Blog. We chilled out on the sofa until bedtime around 00:00... Mark