Trip to Burnley / Todmorden 11-10-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
69584	Burnley BS	Todmorden BS	589	First West Yorkshire
32527	Todmorden BS	Lydgate (Todmorden), adj The Railway PH	592	First West Yorkshire
69582	Lydgate (Todmorden), opp The Railway PH	Todmorden BS	592	First West Yorkshire
69582	Todmorden BS	Hebden Bridge, Market Street (stop HB15)	592	First West Yorkshire
32539	Hebden Bridge, Market Street (Stop HB14)	Todmorden BS	590	First West Yorkshire
69584	Todmorden BS	Pike Hill, by Cheviot Avenue	589	First West Yorkshire
69584	Pike Hill, opp Cheviot Avenue	Cliviger, opp Hillcrest Avenue	589	First West Yorkshire
69587	Cliviger, adj Hill Crest Avenue	Burnley BS	592	First West Yorkshire

Today we decided to re-visit Burnley. We had checked the weather for today on Friday and it predicted a mainly dry day with showers. With this forecast we gave Matthew a list of destinations from the North West and he picked Burnley. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and apple juice for breakfast. Around 12:00 we jumped into the car to set off. We were delayed around 15 because we had a flat battery! We set off onto the A5035 and then we turned North up Stanley Matthews Way. Part way along we passed D&G 173 on the Trentham Plumline. We went West on the A50 and then Northwards up the A500. We joined the Northbound M6 and traffic was flowing well, probably due to the international football break. Just as we got to the M56 we caught up with Chiltern Travel YJ08 NTC also heading Northwards.

Chiltern Travel YJ08 NTC on the M6

We carried on up the M6 until we reached the M62 and then we went Eastwards.We followed the Road Eastwards as the M60 clockwise and then we went North when we reached the M66. There was a line of traffic trying to come off the M66 at the A58 for Bury and we continued Northwards until the M66 became the A56. When we got to the M65 we went East for a couple of junction before heading into Burnley town centre via Westway and Trafalgar Street. We parked up near to the bus station and we set off on foot to the Atlantis Cafe. On the way to the cafe as we walked past the bus station we saw Transdev Burnley & Pendle 708 on a #8 service into the bus station.

'Starship' 708 in Burnley

We got to the cafe and Matthew headed up the stairs to the toilet. For dinner Matthew had a breakfast with toast was down with a glass of Coke. After we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and set off an our walk around the outside of the bus station taking pictures. The flat battery meant that we had missed doing the #517 service towards Hebden Bridge, so we would probably be on Transdev Buses. The bus station contained usual mix of Transdev buses plus a Rosso bus, A First West Yorkshire bus and a couple of Holmeswood Solos. As we were taking picture of buses in the bus station we saw Union Coaches P612 UGE going past on the A682.

Union Coaches P612 UGE in Burnley

We walked back around the bus station and in through the side entrance. Required Transdev Lancashire United 1876 was an unusual site on the #152 to Preston, and required First West Yorkshire 69584 was on a #589 to Rochdale. I asked Matthew if he wanted to any of the buses in the bus station, or wait for something up towards Nelson. Just as it looked like Matthew want to stay put and wait for something better, he decided he would like to do First West Yorkshire 69584 up towards Todmorden.

First West Yorkshire 69584 in Burnley bus station

We got on the bus and booked a First West Yorkshire day ticket. The driver very nicely recommended that brought the FirstDay Family & Friends ticket at £8 which would cover all three of us. We sat down near to the back of the bus and after a few minutes we set off out of the bus station. We went under the railway and past turf Moor and we climbed up the hill towards Brunshaw. we carried on through Cliviger and Mereclough and we joined onto the A646 to travel south Eastwards into Yorkshire. As we traveled along we passed First West Yorkshire 69582 on a Burnley bound #592 service. We traveled down the narrow valley through Cornholme and Lydgate and we entered the town of Todmorden from the North Western corner. We pulled into the bus station and we got off First Potteries West Yorkshire 69584. Also in the bus station was West Yorkshire 66780 on a #590 to Halifax.

First West Yorkshire 66780 in Todmorden bus station

On the road side of the bus station as TLC Solo SR 90814 on a T1 service to Cross Lee.

TLC 90814 in Todmorden bus station

As we contemplated our next move, required West Yorkshire 32527 came into the bus station on a #592 to Burnley.

First West Yorkshire 32527 in Todmorden bus station

As it was required we decided to do this bus. It was heading towards Burnley, so we decided to do this bus only part way. if we didn't go too far we should meet required First West Yorkshire 69582 coming the other way. We got on the bus and flashed our ticket before going upstairs. The bus was quite busy upstairs, and Matthew took a picture of the empty seats opposite us.

Inside First West Yorkshire 32527

The bus set off out of the bus station and we turned right onto the A646. We decided to travel no more than 10 minutes up the valley as there was around 10 minutes waiting in the bus station at Todmorden for all arrivals from Burnley. We saw a place with two bus stops opposite and we decided to get off the bus. As the bus carried on towards Burnley Matthew got another picture of First West Yorkshire 32527. We crossed the road to wait for the bus back. It was due in a couple of minutes at 15:18. As we waited for the bus we noticed there appeared to be a school bus depot behind the back of the adjacent mill. A minutes or two later we saw the Volvo come around the corner and it was as expected First West Yorkshire required 69582.

First West Yorkshire 69582 in Lydgate

We got on the bus and flashed the ticket. The bus was quite busy and Matthew sat down on a single seat with uncle Dave standing next to him. I sat a little further back in the bus. A few stops down the road somebody got off the bus and we were able to sit down together. The bus pulled into Todmorden bus station and we considered stopping on the bus to Hebden Bridge. Matthew decided he wanted to get off here. We got off and we walked into town around the market building. Here Matthew used the toilet before we returned back to the bus station. It was 15:35 and First West Yorkshire 69582 was still in the bus station and not due to depart towards Hebden Bridge until 15:40. Matthew shared his two pack of Milky Way with me and uncle Dave (one for him, half each for me and uncle Dave) and then washed this down with a can of Barr limeade. We decided to get back onto First West Yorkshire 69582 so we could try and catch the #517 service back towards Burnley. At 15:40 the bus set off out of the bus station and we saw First West Yorkshire 53301 running empty towards Hebden Bridge. We turned onto the eastbound A646 for a fast 12 minute or so run into Hebden Bridge. When we got to the Western edge of town we decided to get off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First West Yorkshire 69582 as carried on towards Halifax on the #592 service.

First West Yorkshire 69582 in Hebden Bridge

We had around 15 minutes in town so we decided to visit the Co-operative food store opposite. Mathew had a 5 pack of Milky Ways, a can of coke for later and small bottle of Irn Bru. Once we had finished shopping we headed for the till and paid for the stuff. We got to the bus stop with around 2 minutes to spare. We waited a while and the #517 had turned up. We saw a doubled decker so we decided to catch that instead. As it got closer we saw it was First West Yorkshire 32539.

First West Yorkshire 32539 in Hebden Bridge

We got on the bus and flashed the ticket. We went upstairs and sat down. A quick check of the page 'Buses I have travelled on' revealed that the double decker was dud! We had been on this double decker from Halifax to Elland back in August 2013. We had another fast run along the A646 into Todmorden and we pulled into the bus station. The service was a short #592 and was terminating here, so we waited for the bus to empty before Matthew got a picture inside First West Yorkshire 32539.

Inside First West Yorkshire 32539

We got off the bus and we decided to hatch a plan to try and get the #517 in again! If we caught the 16:40 departure to Burnley we could head off the return service to Halifax on the outskirts of Burnley. A quick run on the #517 until it turned onto the Long Causeway and then we could walk back onto the main and the following service into Burnley... We had a few minutes to wait. We had spotted a chip shop near to the bus station so we went to check that out... It was only open until 14:00 on Saturdays. As we were heading back we spotted a bus garage. with two Mercedes in. First we took a picture of Central Garage M40 DPG.

Central Garage M40 DPG in Todmorden

The we got a picture of the other Mercedes minibus parked up there, Central Garage M871 ATC.

Central Garage M871 ATC in Todmorden

We started to head back to the bus station to wait for the #589 towards Burnley. We didn't have to wait long for it to appear. It was dud First West Yorkshire 69584 which had scored earlier in the day!

First West Yorkshire 69584 in Todmorden Bus staton

A little bit unfortunate to get the same bus twice in a day. We flashed the ticket and sat down. The bus had it's customary 10 minute wait here, but we didn't mind waiting on the bus has it had now started to rain! Just before 16:40 the driver let the last few people onto the bus and the bus left the bus station and turned right onto the A646. We checked the #589 timetable and the timetable details of the #517. We wouldn't make the bus on the inbound trip, but we should pass the Halifax bound #517 on the edge of town and we just had to get off at the right place. AS he bus went towards Burnley I kept a close eye on the time and the timetable to check our progress. We were due to pass Mereclough at 17:03 and the #517 was due off the bus station at 17:05 so we should be able to travel down a little bit closer to town. We came to a long straight section of road so we decided to get off. Matthew had wanted to go forward, but I explained we were getting off to catch the #517. We got up and got off the bus, and Matthew took another picture of First West Yorkshire 69584 as it carried on towards Burnley.

First West Yorkshire 69584 in Pike Hill

We crossed the road and stood at the bus stop opposite. It was 17:09 and the bus was due at 17:09... We looked down the road expecting to see something appear any minute now. We looked the other way to see a First West Yorkshire Solo approaching. The inbound #517 must have been late so we quickly crossed over the road and tried to flag it down. As it got closer we saw that it was running out of service and it was required First West Yorkshire 53301.

First West Yorkshire 53301 in Pike Hill

Damn! Still if we were luck we would be able to catch it still. In he mean time we crossed over to wait for the next bus. We then saw taxi minibus Millennium PO55 CXP go past.

Millennium PO55 CXP in Pike Hill

The #589 was due at 17:28. Hopefully the #517 would be in front of this service and we could do it a few stops up the road and then do the next #592 back into town to finish. At around 17:29 we saw the #589 approaching... we decided to give up on the #517 for today. We got back on dud First West Yorkshire 69584 for the third time today much to the amusement of the driver! We sat down and the bus set off along Red Lees Road. WE saw that the housing was coming to an end and there were opposite bus stops so we decided to get off. As First West Yorkshire 69584carried on toward Yorkshire, Matthew got another picture of it.

First West Yorkshire 69584 in Cliviger

We crossed the road and we didn't have to wait for long before we saw the #592 approaching. As the bus got closer we saw required First West Yorkshire 53301 on the #517 whizz past going the other way... Our bus got closer and we saw it was required First West Yorkshire 69587.

First West Yorkshire 69587 in Cliviger

We flashed the ticket for the final time today, and we sat down near to the back of the bus. The bus took very little time to go back down Red Lees Road and past Turf Moor and back into town. On this occasion we went into the bus station before the bus emptied out. We waited behind and Matthew got a picture inside the now empty First West Yorkshire 69587.

Inside First West Yorkshire 69587

When Matthew got off the bus, we said hello to someone, we visited the shop for some more sweets and a can of Vimto, and he used the disabled toilet. We set offback to the car, taking a few bus pictures on the way. On the end stand of the bus station was Transdev Burnley & Pendle 254 on a #4 service.

'Starship' 254 in Burnley bus station

We got in the car and it started first time luckily... We then drove across to the Tesco petrol station across the road to get some diesel. We headed back onto the M65 via Trafalgar Street and Westway. By now it was starting to go dark. The sun was very low and red as we climbed up the A56 towards the M66. We joined the anti-clockwise M60 and then forwards onto the Westbound M62. By the time we were on the M6 it was properly dark and we came off the M6 at the A500 junction. We went South to the A50 and then East to Longton were we came off the A50 to check out what was parked up at Z Carz. It was the first time we had visited Z carz in darkness this Autumn. First in the row was Mercedes minibus W221 CDN.

Z Carz W221 CDN in Longton

Next to that was Z Carz Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

Next was Z Carz Iveco minibus GK02 NWJ.

Z Carz GK02 NWJ in Longton

That was the first time we have seen the Iveco bus outside the compound. Finally was Z carz Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

We turned left into Willow Row to view what was in the compound. The was long term SORN LDV minibus T408 JUX and silver LDV minibus CN57 HWA. We headed back onto the A50 and we came off the road at Heron Cross. We passed Lightning Travel T2 DLT at the Lightning House and we carried on through Blurton, getting home around 19:40. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a cake bar. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:30... Mark

Trip to Burnley / Todmorden 28-06-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
41283	Burnley BS	Mytholmroyd, at Burnley Road Midgley Rd	517	First West Yorkshire
66746	Mytholmroyd, opp The Dusty Miller PH	Todmorden BS	590	First West Yorkshire
69586	Todmorden BS	Hebden Bridge, Market Street (Stop HB15)	592	First West Yorkshire
32525	Hebden Bridge, Market Street (Stop HB14)	Todmorden BS	590	First West Yorkshire
32696	Todmorden BS	Eastwood, opp Halifax Rd Shaw Wood Road	592	First West Yorkshire
69585	Eastwood, Halifax Rd Shaw Wood Road (SW-bound)	Todmorden BS	590	First West Yorkshire
69583	Todmorden BS	Burnley BS	592	First West Yorkshire

Today we decided to go to Burnley. We checked the weather and it appeared to be better to the north today. So we gave matthew a choice of a few Northern towns and he chose Burnley. Research consisted of looking at the price of and validity of First tickets on the off chance we got to Burnley in time to the #517 to Halifax and it was something worth catching. It turned out the First West Yorkshire tickets was only £4.60 and Transdev Silver ticket is £6. We also checked the times of the #517 service as this changed in April. Matthew got up at 10:00 and he had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We got ready and we set off just after 11:30. We headed onto the A5035 and then we turned into Stanley Matthew Way. We had a short trip along the A50 and we joined the Northbound A500 which we did up to Shelton New Road so we could fill up with LPG. After we had finished filling up we took the A53 West following First Potteries 66307 on a #34A to Talke. We got back on the Northbound A500 and we headed up to the M6. We then went North and we saw ABC Supreme YN55 KXO going North too. We turned East at the M62 and we continued East on the M60. When we got to the M66 we went North past Bury and Ramsbottom. We overtook Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2780 on a X43 to Burnley and we then carried on up the A56 until we reached the M65. We went a couple of junctions further East before we came off the motorway for the last couple of miles into town. We parked near the bus station and we walked across the the Atlantis Cafe. Mathew went upstairs to the toilet and mum ordered the food. Apparently the owner of the cafe is from Stoke! Matthew had a breakfast and a large cup of Coke. After we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we walked around the end of the bus station to get a few pictures. Required First West Yorkshire 41283 was on the #517 to Halifax.

First West Yorkshire 41283 in Burnley bus station

If we walked quickly around the bus station, hopefully we would be able to catch this bus. Also in the bus station was Mainline liveried Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1857 on a #23 to Accrington.

'Mainline' 1857 in Burnley bus station

We the saw Tyrer Bus YJ05 WCE departing the bus station on a #65 service.

Tyrer Bus YJ05 WCE in Burnley bus station

We also saw Transdev Burnley & Pendle Dart 715 on a local service.

'Starship' 715 in Burnley bus station

The bus we had passed on the M66 was now in the bus station. 'Witch Way' branded Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2780 was about to work a X43 to Manchester.

'Witch Way' 2780 in Burnley bus station

Last in the row was another starship liveried bus. It was Transdev Burnley & Pendle Optare Versa 260 on a #5 service.

'Starship' 260 in Burnley bus station

We quickly walked around the into the bus station and we got on First West Yorkshire 41283. We decided to get the cheaper First West Yorkshire Day ticket and venture East. We sat down at the back of the bus which was quite full. The bus left town along Harry Potts Way past Turf Moor and the gigantic picture of Tunstall born Martin Paterson. We went beyond Brunshaw, the furthest point which we had travelled on the #517 when we did First West Yorkshire 41316 back in January. Further along the road the houses gave way to open Moorland. We caught up with a tractor puling a trailer full of Hay and we followed it for a short while. We turned left onto The Long Causeway following the tractor! The tractor pulled over a little further up the road and we went past it and off into the wide open moors. We climbed higher and the views were spectacular... I recommend doing this Saturdays Only bus as a scenic tour if you ever find yourself in Burnley at a loose end. We carried on going up and passed a large bank of wind turbines before starting the decent back into civilization. We passed the village of Blackshaw Head. We saw TLC bus 90819 on a #596 to Blackshaw Head. We carried on down into the Calder Valley and through a village called Heptonstall. As we we approaching Hebden Bridge I asked the lady in front of us if there was a bus station. She mentioned a turning circle and stops on the High Street. She also asked me if we were coming next weekend for the cycle race. The bus emptied a little and Matthew took a picture of the seat opposite us.

Inside First West Yorkshire 41283

The bus joined onto the A646 from a steep road at a sharp angle. We carried on to the next stop which also had a turning circle so the bus could turn around to head into town. For a small town Hebden Bridge has an incredibly busy high street. It is full of independent (expensive) shops. Mum wouldn't like it... We decided to go past Hebden Bridge to Mytholmroyd, a town that we have visited before from the Halifax end back in September 2013. When we got to the centre of town we decided to get off. Matthew got another picture of this interesting old Dart before it continued up the A646 towards Halifax.

First West Yorkshire 41283 in Mytholmroyd

We had a look a round to see what was there. There was a bus stop opposite with a toilet block behind it. There was also a paper shop. We decided to walk up to the crossing so we could visit the paper shop. As we walked up to the crossing we saw TLC 3097 on a Westbound local service.

TLC 3097 in Mytholmroyd

We crossed the road and we found that the paper shop was shut! We walked into town a little but we could not find a shop. As we got back to the bus stop we saw that their was a Sainsbury's local store almost exactly where we had got off the bus! At the same time we saw First West Yorkshire 69578 on a #590 to Todmorden.

First West Yorkshire 69578 in Mytholmroyd

We crossed back over to Sainsbury's and Matthew picked up a can of Coke and a twin pack of Milky Way. We crossed back over to the stop and we saw there was a bus to Todmorden every 10 minutes on service #590 from Halifax. At ten past the hour there was a through #590 service to Rochdale. There was also an hourly #592 through to Burnley at 20 to the hour. Matthew visited the toilet and when he came out we had a little picnic at the bus stop. We broke a can of Irn Bru out of rations, which he drank just before the bus turned up. The bus was required First West Yorkshire 66746.

First West Yorkshire 66746 in Mytholmroyd

We flashed our First Bus tickets and we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off back through Hebden Bridge and this time we were able to appreciate it more. All the shops were decorated with cycling related displays for the race next weekend. I could not believe it when I found out that the race is going to be part of the Tour de France! The bus carried on through the Calder Valley for a further 5 miles into Todmorden where we planned to get off. On the way we passed Leyland tiger CBM 13X parked up in a layby. The bus followed the A646 through town, turning right towards Burnley and into the bus station which is situated under the 7th arch of the railway viaduct which runs through the town overhead. We got off the bus and we had a quick walk around the bus station. We considered our next move... There was a second #517 from Burnley to Halifax at 17:05. The Burnley bound bus from Hebden Bridge would probably depart from around 16:00. Also the #592 to Burnley was due at 15:50 through Hebden Bridge too. If we could get back quick enough we should make one or the other of these buses. There was a #592 to Halifax in the bus station, required First West Yorkshire 69586.

First West Yorkshire 69586 in Todmorden bus station

We decided to do this bus to see what was happening back at Hebden Bridge. We got on and flashed our tickets to the driver. As the bus was empty at the back Matthew got a picture inside First West Yorkshire 69586.

Inside First West Yorkshire 69586

We sat down and the bus waited for it due time at 15:40. The bus set off back onto the A646 and traveled back down the Calder Valley to Hebden Bridge past the parked up Leyland Tiger and into the Western edge of town. We got off and we saw the First West Yorkshire 69582 on the #592 going the other way... The next opportunity to get back towards Burnley was the #517. We looked at the board on the stop and the bus was due at 16:07 in around 15 minutes. There was a Co-op on the opposite corner so we decided to go for a quick shopping trip. Matthew picked up another can of Coke and I got him a drink he would actually drink whilst we were out,a bottle of Irn Bru. He picked up some more chocolate and we headed for the till. It was a sizable Co-op store, and as such was quite busy. The guy on the till was having trouble with a cooked chicken, and the manager gave him a jar of coffee to scan to put something of the same value through the till. By the time we got out we only had a couple of minutes to wait for the #517. 16:07 came and went but the bus hadn't turned up. We looked up at the electronic display and it said the bus was due, but not before the #590 to Todmorden. This must the the first time we have seen and noticed real-time bus information displayed at a stop. The #590 did turn first and it was a double decker. We decided we were going to do this instead. As it got closer we saw it was required First West Yorkshire 32525.

First West Yorkshire 32525 in Hebden Bridge

We got on the bus and flashed our First Bus tickets. We went upstairs and Matthew said hello to the girl sitting at the front of the bus. The bus was empty behind us so Matthew took a picture of the bus there and then.

Inside First West Yorkshire 32525

We sat down as the bus set off back up the Calder valley and past the Leyland Tiger again. As we left town, I realised that we had been to the town that had given rise to Bogshed... Quite possibly the best band of the 1980's. We hadn't noticed a single piece of artwork, statue or even on the of those blue plaques to denote the houses of the band members! The journey to Todmorden was swift taking a little over 10 minutes to get to there and to turn into the bus station. We got off the bus and there was another TLC bus present so Matthew got a picture of it. It was TLC 90815 on a T1 Cross Lee service.

TLC 90815 in Todmorden bus station

We walked around the bus station and Matthew took another picture of First West Yorkshire 32525 before it headed off back to Halifax on the next #590 service.

First West Yorkshire 32525 in Todmorden bus station

We decided to go for a quick walk into town at this point. We thought we could still head off the #517 at Burnley if we caught 16:40 to #589 Burnley. Or we could go towards Hebden Bridge to intercept the 17:10 #592 from Todmorden. We walked through the market and across a square to the public toilets. After Matthew had used the toilet we walked around the market and back into the bus station. We though that double decker at the bus station looked different to the one we just had. It was a different bus... It was required First West Yorkshire 32696 on the #592 from Burnley to Halifax.

First West Yorkshire 32696 in Todmorden bus station

We walked around the bus station and we decided to catch the double decker instead of doing First West Yorkshire 69584 which was on the #589 to Burnley. We could then head of the next #592 just West of Hebden Bridge and catch that back to Burnley. We got on the bus and we flashed our tickets. We went upstairs and Matthew got a picture of the of the top deck of First West Yorkshire 32696 which was empty.

Inside First West Yorkshire 32696

The bus set off out of town and we went for around 5 minutes before we got up and got of the bus. We were in Eastwood (apparently)... Matthew got another picture of First West Yorkshire 32696 as it headed of East towards Halifax.

First West Yorkshire 32696 in Eastwood

We crossed the road to wait for the #592 back to Burnley. We gave Matthew the bottle of Irn Bru and we looked at the timetable at the stop. As Matthew started to drink we realised we should have passed a #590 and that we hadn't. We looked up the road to see a bus approaching. It was required First West Yorkshire 69585.

First West Yorkshire 69585 in Eastwood

We flashed the tickets and got on the bus and we sat down near to the back. This would get an extra bus in and help to break up the journey back to Burnley. The bus charged up the A646 and we got into Todmorden bus station in no time. Before we got off Matthew got a picture inside First West Yorkshire 69585.

Inside First West Yorkshire 69585

We walked around the bus station for one last time whilst we waited for the #592 to Burnley. On a #589 to Rochdale was required First West Yorkshire 69580.

First West Yorkshire 69580 in Todmorden bus station

First West Yorkshire 66746 reappeared after doing a round trip to Rochdale and back from when we caught the bus earlier.

First West Yorkshire 66746 in Todmorden bus station

The #592 to Burnley eventually turned up and it was required First West Yorkshire 69583.

First West Yorkshire 69583 in Todmorden bus station

We got on the bus and flashed the tickets for a final time today. We sat down near the back and we had to wait a few minutes before it was time to depart. The bus went onto the A646, this time towards Burnley. As the road left town we were in a very steep sided valley. The houses had virtually no gardens behind them and the gardens there were there were on steep hills, or cut into the valley. We traveled through Cornholme and Portsmouth and then we crossed over the railway line as we got towards to top of the valley. The road opened out more here and we had a long run along the A646 before we turned off the road to serve the Walk Mill area. We climbed up Mill Lnae and joined Red Leese Road for the run into Burnley. We past the Long Causeway were the #517 turns, and we carried on as the road became Brunshaw Road. As we were going to back past Turf Moor I decided to try and get a picture of the picture of Martin Paterson outside Turf Moor. I did managed to take one, albeit a little blurry. The bus dropped down into town and turned into the bus station. We waited for the bus to empty before Matthew got a picture inside First West Yorkshire 69583.

Inside First West Yorkshire 69583

We visited the shop and after a few more purchases we went out of the bus station and we saw Moving People Optare Solo YJ04 CCW.

Moving People YJ04 CCW in Burnley

As we were walking back around to the toilet in the bus station, Matthew spotted someone he wanted to say hello to and ran at them. Matthew used the toilet and we walked to the car. We walked past the girl he had run at previously, this time he was well behaved. In the car Matthew had a Greggs sausage roll and a large an of Irn Bru. We set off out of town and onto the A671. We did this up to the M65 and then went West. We traveled the short distance to the A56 and we went South. Here we climbed up an out of the valley before running down and around Haslingden and onto the M66. We had a short run down onto the M60 anti-clockwise where we spied Merseyside based minibus Hartley Travel J12 HTL. We turned onto the M62 and we got into a position where Matthew could take a picture of this minibus.

Hartley Travel J12 HTL on the M62

We carried on West towards the M6 and then Southwards into Cheshire. we overtook Maynes of Buckie KM14 YNE as we headed towards junction 16. We came off and down the A500 until we reached the A50 and then we went into Longton to check out what was parked up at Z Carz today. There were 4 minibuses on the spare ground this evening. Firstly was Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

Next to this was Ford FP06 WTW.

Z Carz FP06 WTW in Longton

This was followed by marooned coloured VW minibus S973 OVP.

Z Carz S973 OVP in Longton

Finally we saw the airport transfers minibus DL03 HHU.

Z Carz DL03 HHU in Longton

We turned into Willow row to see what was in the compound. Today there was long term SORN LDV minibus T408 JUX and MJ03 DPU.

Z Carz MJ03 DPU in Longton

We headed back onto the A50 which we did to Heron Cross. We went through heron Cross where we saw Lightning Travel minibus T2 DLT. We got back home around 19:30 this evening. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with carrots followed by chocolate fudge cake. Mathew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 01:00... Mark