Trip to Hanley / Newcastle 07-01-2022

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
65038	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Newcastle BS	11	First Potteries
32643	Newcastle BS	Newcastle, opp Cherry Tree	25	First Potteries

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was going out on the bus and going as long as no one gets ill. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast for breakfast. before Matthew went to the day centre he watched buses out of the window. whilst waiting for the time to go to the day centre, we saw Shelton Care Group DY08 FFX. In the morning Matthew went to the dentist. We went downstairs and we got in a car. we set off onto Temple Street. In the distance we saw Temple Street church RX18 GZW. We carried on along Temple Street and we turned right onto Christchurch Street. We turned right onto Baker Street and left onto Glebedale Road. At the end of the road we turned right onto City Road and sharp left onto Victoria Road at the roundabout. We ran down the hill to Joiners Square and at the roundabout we turned right onto the A52. We ran to Bucknall and we turned left onto Bucknall Road. We turned right onto Keelings Road and left onto Bucknall Old Road. We continued onto Hillcrest Street and we turned right onto Garth Street. We parked up on Upper Huntbach Street car park and we walked to the dentist. Matthew visited the dentist but he didn't have any work done today. When the appointment had finished we returned to Fenton by car. We set off onto Garth Street and we turned left onto Bucknall Old Road. We turned right onto Keelings Road and left onto Bucknall Road. At the bottom of the hill we turned right at the lights onto the A52. We ran up to Joiners Square and at the roundabout we turned left onto Victoria Road. We turned sharp right onto City Road and left onto Glebedale Road. We turned right onto Baker Street and left onto Christchurch Street. We turned right onto Masterson Street and right onto Watkin Street. We ran onto Temple Street and we parked up. We returned to the residential unit where work is currently being carried out. We went upstairs and Matthew went to his room to chill out. later on Matthew went to Hanley to collect his dinner. We went downstairs and got in the car. we set off onto Temple Street. In the distance we saw Temple Street church RX18 GZW. We carried on along Temple Street and we turned right onto Christchurch Street. We turned right onto Baker Street and left onto Glebedale Road. At the end of the road we turned right onto City Road and sharp left onto Victoria Road at the roundabout. We ran down the hill to Joiners Square and at the roundabout we went forwards onto Lichfield Street We stopped at the chips shop and after we had picked up the food we returned to Fenton by car. We set off onto Lichfield Street and we ran down the hill to Joiners Square. At the roundabout we turned left onto Victoria Road. We turned sharp right onto City Road and left onto Glebedale Road. We turned right onto Baker Street and left onto Christchurch Street. We turned right onto Masterson Street and right onto Watkin Street. We ran onto Temple Street and we parked up. We returned to the residential unit. Matthew went upstairs and went to the dinning room and had sausage chips and gravy followed a couple of slices of chocolate cake. Matthew also had a bottle of Coke. In the afternon Matthew had a nap. He woke up and used his computer whilst he waited for me to pick him up to return to Blurton. He also watched buses out of the window. We saw First Potteries 65042 on a #11 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 65042 in Fenton

Matthwe went into the living room and we saw Temple Street Church RX18 GZW.

Temple Street Church RX18 GZW in Fenton

He also watched buses out of the window we saw Travel Express YJ61 HAU.

Travel Express YJ61 HAU in Fenton

A few minutes later we saw white minibus SD13 YLN going towards Heron Cross.

SD13 YLN in Fenton

Later on we went out on the bus. We went downstairs and we set off onto City Road. We waited at the bus stop outside the flats for a bus to Stoke. A short time later we saw a bus turned the corner. When it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 65038 on a #11 to Newcastle. 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 we passed Voyager Travel YT65 NNL going the other way. We went 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. 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 went down to the bottom end of the bus station and we saw Arriva Midlands 2983 on a #64 to Market Drayton. We saw a bus heading towards the hospital. When it came into the bus station we saw it was First Potteries 32643 on a #101 to Stafford. We got on the bus and we booked to the Cherry Tree before sitting down towards the back of the bus. we saw First Potteries 47520 on a #22 to Longton. 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. Once off the bus we headed up the hill towards Grandma's. We saw Copeland's Tours MIB 783 going towards Newcastle. At Grandma's Matthew had toast and a can of Irn Bru and used her computer. He also had a slice of chocolate log. When it was time to go we said goodbye to Grandma and we got in the car. We set off just after 16:00 and we ran 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 65034 on a #101 to Stafford, and Leons 239 heading Southwards. Once we had finished eating we set off to Blurton. We got in the car and we ran down the A34 and Crossed under the A500 into Hanford. We continued down to Trentham and we saw black minibus OU19 CCN. We turned left onto the A5035 and we ran over the railway line in to Blurton and back to the house. Matthew chilled out and had a can of Irn Bru. When it was time to go we went back to the residential unit in the car. We set off onto Beaconsfield Drive and we turned left onto Church Road. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran through Blurton. We crossed over the A50 and into Heron Cross. We ran forwards onto Heron Street and we continued onto Station Bridge Road. We turned left onto Christchurch Street and left onto Masterson Street. We turned right on to Watkin Street and right onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. We went upstairs to Matthew's room and we wrote some of the Blog. Matthew also drank a can of Dr Pepper. Matthew went his room to chill out on his computer and watch buses out of the window. Matthew returned to his room to chill out. He watched television and used his computer. later on he had a bath. For supper Matthew had some toast. Matthew went to bed around 23:00... Mark

Trip to St Helens / Huyton 11-02-2017

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2729	Earlestown BS	St Helens BS	20	Arriva NW&W
4621	St Helens BS	Prescot, adj Church Street	10A	Arriva NW&W
2696	Prescot BS	Huyton BS	89	Arriva NW&W
2983	Huyton BS	St Helens BS	89	Arriva NW&W
4615	St Helens BS	Prescot, adj Church Street	10	Arriva NW&W
2696	Prescot BS	Prescot, Queens Road	89	Arriva NW&W
27707	Prescot, Eccleston Street	St Helens BS	10A	Stagecoach Merseyside

Today we decided to re-visit St Helens. We had checked the weather for today and it was for cold cloudy weather occasion snow flurries in the North West and Midlands. The weather appeared a little better in the North West as long as we stayed clear of the Pennines. We gave Matthew a list of destinations in the area and from the list Matthew chose St Helens. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off just before 12:00 and we ran down to the A5035 and we turned right onto Stanley Matthews Way. We joined the A50 and we went Westwards to the A500. At Sideway we turned right and we ran up the A500 and we saw Stanton's of Stoke 5658 RU. We went North to Wolstatnton where we came off to get diesel at Asda. After we had filled up we got back onto the Northbound A500. We continued up to the M6 and we saw silver taxi minibus P40 CSH. As we joined the M6 we saw Woodstones coach BK15 AZO. As we travelled North we saw The Traveller Choice (National Express) PO12 GWJ, Howards double decker F19 HOW, Holmeswood coaches PO16 HTF, an unidentified Tyrers coach and a couple of unidentified Doig's of Glasgow coaches. We came off the M6 onto the Westbound M62 and we ran one junction to the A49. At Winwick we went North up to Newton-le-Willows. After we ran through town we turned left where we saw Hilton's Travel XIL 1581. We went Westwards to Earlestown. We ran into the centre of Earlestown along Market Street and Tamworth Street and we parked up in the car park. As it was the first time we had been to Earlestown since the opening of the new Wetherspoons, we decided to eat there at The Nine Arches. When we went inside the building Matthew headed straight to the toilet. Afterwards Matthew had a burger and chip which he washed down with a glass of Coke. When it was time to go we said goodbye to mum and we went outside to the bus station. there were two bus about to leave towards St Helens. Arriva NW&W 2580 was about to work a #34 service and Arriva NW&W 2729 was about to do the #20.

Arriva NW&W 2729 in Earlestown bus station

We made a split-second decision on which bus to catch, and we decided to go with the oldest bus Arriva NW&W 2729.We got on the bus and we purchased Arriva NW&W Day Saver tickets at £5.30 each before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and went onto Market Street. A quick check of the Buses I have Travelled on page revealed that we had made the wrong choice! Arriva NW&W 2580 was a required bus, whereas we had done Arriva NW&W 2729 before from St Helens to New Boston back in October 2013. We turned onto the A572 and we turned onto Vista Road. We ran North for around 3/4's of a mile and then we turned left onto the A599. We ran through new Boston into Haydock and as we passed the Tesco superstore we saw an unidentified white coach parked in the car park on the opposite side of the road. We continued into St helens and we passed an number of buses on outwards bound #320 services to Wigan. Travelling Eastwards were Arriva NW&W 2496/2695/2965/2987. We also saw required Arriva NW&W Volvo B10 on a #20 to Earlestown. We joined the A58 just outside of town and we ran into town and over the railway line along Corporation Street. We followed the one-way system around onto Bickerstaffe Street and into the bus station. We let the bus empty out and then Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2729.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2729

Once we got off the bus we had a quick look around to see what we could catch. Just behind us was Arriva NW&W 719 which had just arrived. It was about to work the next #17 service to Widnes.

Arriva NW&W 719 in St Helens bus station

In front of us was Arriva NW&W 2965 which we had followed into town from Haydock. It was about to work the next #320 to Wigan.

Arriva NW&W 2965 in St Helens bus station

Leaving the bus station was Hatton's Travel MV54 AOC which was on a #12 town circular service.

Hatton's Travel MV54 AOC in St Helens bus station

Matthew decided he wanted to use the toilet so we walked up to the tardis style toilet on the corner of Corporation Street. Once again it was out of order. I suggested to Matthew that we catch a bus quickly to somewhere else where there was a toilet. It was a plan he agreed to. We considered our options... We could go to Earlestown or Prescot. The #34 about to depart was Ex Winsford allocated and very dud Arriva NW&W 2498. There was a double decker coming around on a #10A to Liverpool so we decided to head up to prescot. We hurried down the bus station to get on required Arriva NW&W 4621.

Arriva NW&W 4621 in St Helens bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva NW Day Saver tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. The top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 4621.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4621

The bus set off out of the bus station through town and past the new Nando's and Cinema. We joined the A58 and we ran Westwards before we turned off the main road to head towards Thatto Heath down Lugsmore Lane where we passed Cumfybus YS02 UCC on a #139 to St Helens. We continued South through Nutgrove and over the railway line at Rainhill. Here we joined the A57 for the run towards Prescot. We passed Whiston hospital where we saw silver shuttle buses 1/2/3, We went around the town to the North and we got up and got off the bus just to the North of the bus station. We popped into the Sun Inn where Matthew went to the toilet before we had a can of Coke from behind the bar. We decided to walk into the bus station just off Church Street and as we walked down we saw there was a #89 to Liverpool John Lennon airport. Opposite to that we saw Halton Transport 8 on a #61 to Widnes.

Halton Transport 8 in Prescot bus station

We decided to go for the #89 service, which was required Arriva NW&W 2696.

Arriva NW&W 2696 in Prescot bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva NW Day Saver tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and onto Sewell Street. We ran past Tesco and the retail park and past the business park. We turned right onto Carr Lane and at the end we turned left onto Huyton Lane. We crossed over the M57 and we ran into Huyton. We turned left into Lathhom Road running past the shops and police station. We ran around McDonalds and we entered the bus station. When the bus came onto stand we got off the bus and we set off out off the bus station to a position where we could take bus pictures. On the way we spotted HTL buses BF62 JZW on a #245 Huyton circular service.

HTL buses BF62 JZW in Huyton bus station

We stood at the East end of the bus station and we took a few pictures. We saw Cumfybus MX04 VLU on a #139 to Liverpool.

Cumfybus MX04 VLU in Huyton bus station

A few minutes later we saw required Halton Transport 26 on a #61 to Liverpool.

Halton Transport 26 in Huyton bus station

Have seen a #89 to St Helens when we arrived we looked up the timetable to see that the buses run every 20 minutes during the daytime. Around 5 minutes before the bus was due, we walked back over to the other side of the bus station to wait for the bus to arrive. The bus was a few minutes late, presumably due to heavy traffic in Liverpool city centre. When it arrived we saw that it was dud Arriva NW&W 2983.

Arriva NW&W 2983 in Huyton bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva NW&W Day Saver ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. I asked Matthew if he wanted to go to Prescot on this or St Helens and he said St Helens. This was a bus we had been on before From St Helens to New Boston back in July 2012. The bus set off out of town and onto Huyton Lane. We came into Prescot from the South and into Prescot bus station. The bus then set off out of town towards the hospital like a #10A does and then it turns left into Delph Lane. We Zigged and zagged through the street to the South of the A58 and then we joined the A58 at the same junction where the #10A deviates from the A58, albeit from a different road. We continues into town along the A58 and we passed through the town before circle around the bus station on Corporation Street so that we cold enter the bus station from the East end. The bus emptied out on the stand and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2983 before we got off it.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2983

When we got off the bus it had just turned 16:00 and on a dull day in early February it was starting to get a little dark. We decided to do one last quick out and back to try and get a couple more new buses in for the day. At the top end of the bus station Arriva NW&W 2729 was about to do another trip on the #20 to Earlestown so we decided against doing that. We saw another double decker coming on stand so we decided to do a quick out and back to Prescot. The bus pulled onto the stand and it was required Arriva NW&W 4615 on the more direct #10 service to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4615 in St Helens bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva NW&W Day Saver ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. Once again the top deck of the bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 4615.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4615

We set off into the town centre and we cam out of the other side and we joined the A58. As we left town we saw St Helens welfare bus WX07 UHW. It was now pretty much a straight run along a twisty A road, just to the North of Prescot we took the link road from the A58 to the A57. We turned left onto the A57 and then we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4615 as it carried on towards Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4615 in Prescot

I asked Matthew if he wanted do a #89 or a #10/10A back to St Helens and he chose a #89, so we walked down Church Street into the bus station. We had around 10 minutes to wait for the next #89 bus. Whilst we waited we saw Halton Transport 70 on a #61 to Liverpool.

Halton Transport 70 in Prescot bus station

A few minutes later and we saw the bus approaching... it was dud Arriva NW&W 2696 that we had been on earlier in the day!

Arriva NW&W 2696 in Prescot bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva NW&W Day Saver ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. As we set off up onto Church Street and turned right we decided to only do this a few stops and then get off for a following #10A service, as it would be our last chance to get another we bus in today. We passed St Helen's Road where the #10 service turns, and we got up and got off the bus. It just so happened that the bus stop was right next to a Co-operative Food store. We went into the shop and Matthew had a can of \Coke and a small bottle of Fanta as well as a couple of chocolate bars. We paid for the the shopping and then we went outside. We noticed that there was no #10A times at this bus stop, so we decided that the bus must stop at the other stop we could see about 150yds away. On the way to that bus stop, we stopped to take a picture of Halton Transport 88 which was at the bus stop opposite to us on a #61A to Huyton.

Halton Transport 88 in Prescot

We arrived at the stop and we there was a house with a garden next to it where a sausage dog took exception to Matthew's noise and barked frantically. The owner of the dog rapidly called the dog inside the house... The #10A service is another quality bus partnership bus service where Stagecoach tickets are valid on Arriva buses and vice versa. The next bus to show up was a Stagecoach single decker... We asked Matthew if he wanted to do it and he said yes so we flagged the bus down. As it got closer we saw that it was required Stagecoach Merseyside 27707.

Stagecoach Merseyside 27707 in Prescot

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva NW&W Day Saver ticket to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off up the High Street and we went straight onto the A57. We ran South Eastwards out of town past Whiston Hospital and down towards Rainhill railway station. we turned left onto Rainhill Road and we went North towards Thatto heath. We crossed the railway and we went North to the A58. At the junction we turned right and we ran into the Western end of St Helens. After running though the shopping centre of town and we passed the town hall before running in along Bickerstaffe Street and Corporation Street. We let the bus empty out and matthew tooka picture inside Stagecoach Merseyside 27707.

Inside Stagecoach Merseyside 27707

before we went back to the car we took a few more bus pictures. On layover on Corporation Street was Arriva NW&W 717 which was about to work a #30 service to chain Lane.

Arriva NW&W 717 in St Helens bus station

We walked along Corporation Street to the car which mum had driven up from Earlestown to meet us. We got in the car and Matthew had a Greggs Sausage Roll and a small bottle of Irn Bru. We drove along Corporation Street and onto the Eastbound A58. At the next junction we went Eastwards along the A572 through Earlestown and into Newton-le-Willows. We turned right onto the A49 and we went South passing Arriva NW&W 2716 on a #34 to St Helens. We followed the A49 South to Winwick and then Eastwards to the M6. We joined the Southbound M6 and we ran through the nigh towards home. At junction 19 we saw Mullany's Coaches PO12 YLT join the motorway just ahead of us. We continued South down to the A500 and the went South to Sideway. As we joined the A50 we saw an unidentified Steve Aitkin coach. We went Eastwards along the A50 and we came off at Longton so that we could see what was parked up at Z Carz this evening. In the first row we saw Z Carz Citroen minibus LV10 OTM.

Z Carz LV10 OTM in Longton

Also in the front row was Z Carz Volkswagen minibus OV05 WSW.

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

we also saw Z Carz Ford minibus HK57 LFY with its lights on.

Z Carz HK57 LFY in Longton

Nearest vehicle in the front row was Z Carz Ford minibus YS09 LWV.

Z Carz YS09 LWV in Longton

Nearest vehicle in the second row was Z Carz LDV minibus PN06 ONM.

Z Carz PN06 ONM in Longton

We turned into Willow Row to see what was parked in the compound. On the road we saw Z Carz Iveco minibus GK02 NWJ.

Z Carz GK02 NWJ in Longton

In the compound was Z Carz Ford minibus HK57 LGW.

Z Carz HK57 LGW in Longton

We turned around and we got back onto the Westbound A50. We ran fast to Heron Cross before going onto Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton and right onto Church Road before we turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive. We got home around 19:15. for a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until 00:00... Mark

Trip to Earlestown / St Helens 07-07-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
1051	Earlestown BS	Wargrave, o/s St Davids Church	34A	Arriva NW&W
1050	Wargrave, o/s Labour Club	Earlestown BS	34A	Arriva NW&W
2212	Earlestown BS	St Helens BS	20	Arriva NW&W
2983	St Helens BS	New Boston, opp Vista Road	320	Arriva NW&W
2212	New Boston, adj Vista Road	Blackbrook, adj Ireland Road	20	Arriva NW&W
7634	Blackbrook, adj Stanton Close	New Boston, opp Vista Road	20	Arriva NW&W
2212	New Boston, opp Vista Road	Earlestown BS	20	Arriva NW&W
7563	Earlestown BS	Earlestown, opp Newton College	34	Arriva NW&W

Today we went to Earlestown. We hadn't made any plans for today but Matthew insisted on going out again. We gave him a list of places he had been before plus Earlestown. I had visited this place recently I thought it would be a good place to take Matthew. Matthew of course chose Earlestown! No planning had been done whatsoever for this trip, although I did have paper copies of the #34 and the #x20 Arriva timetables in my possession. The weather had been really bad the day before, and so we looked at the weather forecast with great interest. The forecast for today was for sunshine and showers. We set off around 12:15 and headed North. We went North along the M6 until we reached the A49. We then went through Winwick and then on to Newton-le-Willows railway station. We asked Matthew if he wanted to do just Arriva bubs or do anything and he chose anything, and so we purchased Saveaway tickets so we could potentially catch any bus in Merseyside and the Wirral (or even a train too!). We then drove on to Earlestown. We drove straight through town and out the other side missing the turning for the bus station. As we drove around we saw 3 scania's working on #34 or #34A's including required 1042. After we turned around we parked up in free car park adjacent to the bus station. First order of the day was to eat and so we visited a cafe called Crumpets just around the corner from the bus station. We sat inside and ordered 3 breakfasts and a sausage sandwich. After breakfast we used the facilities before walking back to the bus station. We got back to the bus station and there was a dud Dart on the #34 to St Helens, 2213. This is a bus we had been on earlier this year.

Arriva NW&W 2213 in Earlestown bus station

The plan at this point was to wait until 14:25 for a Leigh bound #34. As we waited we saw a #34A, and it was required 1051 so we decided to do it. Once again mum came with us. We got on and decided to do it part way around the end and then get off and wait 20 minutes for the following service. When we got to the turning point of the bus we got off. Matthew got a picture of this soon to be withdrawn step-entranced bus.

Arriva NW&W 1051 in Wargrave

We got off and although there was a shelter here there was no seat, so we decided to walk back into town one stop. It was now warm and sunny. The humidity made it feel very uncomfortable even though it was on a round 20'. We gave Matthew a drink to try and cool him down. After nearly 20 minutes we could see the reflection of the bus on the shops as it approached from around the corner. It was another Scania! As it got closer we could see it was required 1050.

Arriva NW&W 1050 in Wargrave

We got on the near empty bus and rode back into Earlestown. A few more people got on and off and by the time we got back into the bus station the bus had emptied again. Back at the bus station we were going o wait for a #34 towards Leigh. At this point mum was going to go fetch the sausage rolls whilst we did a quick out and back. The #34 to Leigh turned up and it was some kind of Pulsar so Matthew turned it down. At the same time a #20 to St Helens came in and it was required Arriva 2212. Matthew got the picture.

Arriva NW&W 2212 in Earlestown bus station

We decided to do this, with the plan being we could do this part way and then get another #20 back. Forgetting about the fact that the #20 goes past Earlestown., I thought that we could probably make it to Haydock for the next #20 back, but as we left Earlestown, we passed required Dennis Dart 7634 going the other way. We revised the plan, thinking that we could go most of the way to St Helens and then get off for the next Earlestown bus. Matthew had other ideas! He decided he wanted to go to St Helens and that we did. When we got there Matthew photographed the inside of the bus.

Inside 2212

St Helens bus station is quite a busy place,so the plan was to get on a bus as quickly as possible. As we walked around the bus station we saw Arriva Dart 2133. We also saw ex Arriva Winsford Dart 7644. we were walking towards where the #34 and #20's depart and we saw KX59 CYW on a #138 followed by Hatton's interesting Dennis Dart P655 HEG.

Hatton's P655 HEG in St Helens bus station

As Scania 1053 appeared on stand going back towards Leigh, Matthew spotted a #320 with Arriva 2983 in charge. We decided to do this to Haydock and then to wait for the next #20. As we left town we passed the Earlestown #20 which was Arriva 2695. We also passed Arriva 7634 heading back into St Helens. We got off and 2695 was right behind us.

Arriva NW&W 2695 in Haydock

I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this bus and he said no. Right behind this was Arriva 2212 on a #20 to Haydock. It waited for a few minutes and then went around the square bit to got back to St Helens. It was at this point that we realised that the #20 Haydock and the #20 Earlestown bus services interwork. We decided to do this bus again to try and get Arriva 7634 on its next service which was going to be a short to Haydock. We got off in an area called Blackbrook. Matthew spotted a shop and we went in to get some drinks of Coke and a Milky Way. We crossed the road and waited for the bus, it was due around 16:19 from here. Bang on time the bus appeared and we had worked out correctly that it was required Arriva 7634!

Arriva NW&W 7634 in Blackbrook

We did this service to the end of the run and then we had a 15 minute wait for the service to Earlestown. I now contacted mum to tell her we were on our way and she said she was going to get lollies for us to help cool down. The next #20 through to Earlestown was of course going to be 2212 which we got on for the third time that day after Matthew got his picture.

Arriva NW&W 2212 in Haydock

We did the bus back and the journey was quick. It is only booked to take 7 minutes. As we got into Earlestown bus station we could see a Dart on the #34 Leigh stop. It was required Dart 7563 and Matthew got a picture.

Arriva NW&W 7563 in Earlestown bus station

We should have gone back to the car at this point but Matthew was edging forwards. It is due for withdrawal soon being one of the older Darts in the Arriva fleet and Matthew wanted to do it. I told him he could only do the bus for a couple of stops and then I would have to call mum to tell her where to pick us up. I told her the plan by phone and I said I would call her back when I could direct her to pick us up. We did the bus out of the bus station,past Morrison's and the up Cross Lane. We got off the bus in Cross Lane towards the end. Matthew got a picture of this fine beast.

Arriva NW&W 7563 in Cross Lane

I called mum and gave her directions. It was nor starting to rain. Mum appeared a couple of minutes later an we got in the car. It then proceeded to bucket down. We ate our lollies and sausage rolls and then set off. We headed back onto the A572 and then followed directions for the M6 which took us onto the A580/M6 roundabout in Haydock. After joining the M6 we headed South through the heavy rain showers. The weather had cleared up again through Cheshire but as we reached junction 16 the rain started up again. Down the A500 and then the A34 to Newcastle it was raining heavily all the way. We went past the First garage and new liveried First Potteries 40018 was outside the depot. We went past the bus station and then along the A34 to Hanford. Matthew directed us back onto the Northbound A500 and then the Eastbound A50 to longton. Instead of directing us towards the Z Carz depot he took us back through fenton and then past Duke Street to Heron Cross. We then drove back home getting in the house a few minutes after 18:00 where we had Sausages and mash for tea...Mark