Trip to Newcastle / Biddulph 21-12-2024

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67173	Blurton, Magdalen Road	Trentham, Man in Space	22	First Potteries
67159	Trentham, Man in Space	Stoke, stop R	21	First Potteries
67141	Stoke, stop Q	Newcastle BS	11	First Potteries
67157	Newcastle BS	Tunstall, stop A	99	First Potteries
796	Tunstall, Stop E	Fegg Hayes, stop	9A	D&G Bus
6006	Fegg Hayes, stop	Biddulph BS	9	D&G Bus
6003	Biddulph BS	Hanley BS	9	D&G Bus
67151	Hanley BS	Blurton, Opp Ladybank Grove	23	First Potteries

Today we decided to do a local trip as mum was stuck at work. No reserach for the trip was done other than to look up the times of the buses and to check the weather. The weather was forecast to be mainly dry with some sunshine, relatively warm for the time of year. Matthew woke up at 08:00 and had his medication. Matthew got up at 09:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We got ready and went out in tne car to pick up uncle Dave just before 11:00. We set off through Blurton onto Beaconsfield Drive and we turned left onto Church Road. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we went through the road works and up the hill to Heron Cross. We crossed over the A50 and we turned left at the traffic lights onto Grove Road. We continued onto Wheildon Road and we picked up uncle Dave. Afterwards we set off up Wheildon Road and forwards onto Grove Road. We turned right onto Blurton Road and we crossed over the A50. We ran down the hill and back through the roadworks and we turned right onto Church Road. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive and we went back home and parked up the car. We went in for 10 minutes as we had just missed a bus. We walked to the stop all the way over on Magdalen Road and we waited for a bus towards Trentham. A short time later the bus turned the corner. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 67173 on a #22 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67173 in Blurton

We got on the bus and booked a Smart Day ticket at £4.80. This ticket is a multi-operator ticket valid throughout the North Staffordshire area. We sat down near 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 got up to get off the bus at the man in Space and Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 67173 before it carried on to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67173 in Trentham

Once off the bus we waited for a service to Stoke. Matthew checked the map and there was one in the estate on it's way! A short time later the bus turned the corner and we saw it was First Potteries 67159 on a #21 to Hanley.

First Potteries 67159 in Trentham

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. 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. We turned onto London Road and we saw First Potteries 67155 on #21 turn to Trentham. 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. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 67159 before it continued towards Hanley.

First Potteries 67159 in Stoke

We walked along Campbell Place and we crossed over the road. As we turned into Church Street we saw First Potteries 63176 on a #11 to Hanley.

First Potteries 63176 in Stoke

We headed into Stoke Cafe. Uncle Dave escorted Matthew downstairs to the toilet and I ordered the food. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. After we had finished eating we walked down Church Street to the Newcastle bus stop. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 67141 on a #11 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67141 in Stoke

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We 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 got in the bus station. Once off the bus we walked down to the bottom end of the bus station. We saw D&G Bus 6008 on a #1A Meir.

D&G Bus 6008 in Newcastle bus station

We saw that there was a #99 to Chell due shortly, so we walked up to the top end of the bus station. On the way we saw Arriva Midlands 3693 on a #64 to Hanley.

Arriva Midlands 3693 in Newcastle bus station

We stood at the stops at the top end and waited for the bus. A short time later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 67157 on a #99 to Chell Heath.

First Potteries 67157 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver 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. We turned right onto Porthill Bank and we we went down the hill and over the A500. We went through Middleport. We continued up the road and at Trubshaw Cross past the site of Price's Teapots which is currently being restored. 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 67157 before it carried on towards Chell Heath.

First Potteries 67157 in Tunstall

We headed into Tunstall Cafe and Matthew went to the toilet whilst I ordered some food. Matthew had a slice of toffee cheesecake washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished we went outside and we crossed the road to catch a bus out of Tunstall. We decided to go and catch the new #9A service. I had read the timetable wrong and I thought the first stop after the Woodland Road terminus was the stop outside of the old police station. We walked onto the Boulevard and went under the A50 in the subway. We saw the bus come past us running late in the opposite direction. After running to the terminus and back up the High Street we saw the bus come around the roundabout towards us. As it got closer we saw it was D&G Bus 796 on a #9A to Hanley.

D&G Bus 796 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 A50 and we turned left into the Boulevard. We ran down the hill past the park and we went forwards onto Queens Avenue. We turned left onto Irene Avenue and we turned left onto Carlton Avenue and right onto Little Chell Lane. We turned left onto High Lane and we ran through the to the roundabout we turned right and we ran down the A527 through Fegg Hayes. We turned right onto Oxford Road and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we saw D&G Bus 6002 on a #9 to Clayton.

D&G Bus 6002 in Fegg Hayes

We crossed the road and headed to the bus stop opposite. As we approached the stop we saw the bus coming. As it got closer we saw it was D&G Bus 6006 on a #9 to Biddulph.

D&G Bus 6006 in Fegg Hayes

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 Oxford Road and we turned left into the A527 and we headed up though Brindley Ford past the site on where a developer hopes to build some new homes. We continued to Knypersley and we ran around through the housing estates of Biddulph before running into town via St John's Road, past Aldi. We ran forwards onto Colliers Way and 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 D&G Bus 6006 before it returned towards Clayton.

D&G Bus 6006 in Biddulph bus station

We walked along Wharf Road and we turned left onto the High Street. We went to the pub and Matthew visited the toilet whilst I ordered drinks. Matthew had a glass of Coke. We worked out that we had about 15 minutes for the next #9 towards Hanley. After we had finished our drinks we headed up the High Street to B&M. Matthew had a bottle of Coke and we bought a pack of Flake. We walked back onto Wharf Road and we saw D&G Bus 106 between runs on the #95 to Audley.

D&G Bus 106 in Biddulph bus station

We sat on the bench and we had a Flake each. A few minutes later we walked towards the stop as the bus was imminent. The bus appeared from the roundabout on the bypass and as it got closer we saw it was D&G Bus 6003 on a #9 to Clayton.

D&G Bus 6003 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 we set off towards John Street car park. On the way we saw iTravel taxi minibus HX66 ONU parked up on Lichfield Street.

iTravel HX66 ONU in Hanley

We continued towards the car park at John Street. On layover in the bus station was First Potteries 35943.

First Potteries 35943 in Hanley bus station

We went into the car park and we went ups a flight of stairs. We watched buses out of the opening at the side. We saw D&G Bus 159 going on layover.

D&G Bus 159 in Hanley bus station

After taking a few more bus pictures we headed don the stairs onto John Street and back to the bus station. Matthew went to the toilet and we headed down to stand S. The bus was already on stand. As we got closer we saw it was First Potteries 67151 on a #23 to Newstead.

First Potteries 67151 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we placed the Smart Day ticket under the scanner for the final time today before we sat 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 we turned right onto Bethesda Street. We turned left onto Broad Street. We ran down the hill and over the ring road onto Snow Hill Before we turned left onto Copeland Street. We continued forwards onto Glebe Street and we followed the road around onto Church Street. We crossed the A500 and we ran under the railway line and we continued onto City Road. 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 took another picture of First Potteries 67151 as it continued towards Newstead.

First Potteries 67151 in Blurton

We walked back home and Matthew went on his computer. I popped out to the chips shop and returned with food. Matthew had sausages chips and gravy washed down with a can of Cherry Coke. Later on we had a few coconut biscuits. Atound 19:00 we took uncle Dave home. We set off through Blurton onto Beaconsfield Drive and we turned left onto Church Road. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we went through the road works and up the hill to Heron Cross. We crossed over the A50 and we turned left at the traffic lights onto Grove Road. We continued onto Wheildon Road and we parked up uncle Dave's. We went inside and Matthew updated the calendar. We also went upstairs to say happy birthday to uncle Rob. We got back in the car and we set off back to Blurton. We set off onto Wheildon Road and we ran forwards onto Grove Road. 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 19:30. Matthew chilled out on his computer. Matthew had his medication and we did some of the Blog. We also wrote a few emails and generally used the computer to entertain ourselves. Matthew had a can of Cherry Coke. Matthew settled down around 00:00... Mark