Trip to Fenton / Trent Vale 07-11-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
DV10 JCU	Blurton	Fenton	Charter	Shelton Care Group
DV10 JCU	Joiners Square	Fenton	Charter	Shelton Care Group
DV10 JCU	Fenton	Blurton	Charter	Shelton Care Group
41514	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trent Vale, opp Chubb Way (Unmarked)	22	First Potteries

Today we were going to the pub for tea, not before Matthew had been to his day service. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast and orange. Around 08:40 the bus turned up to take matthew to his day service and it was his usual bus, Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU. We got on the bus and sat down. The bus set off onto the A5035 and we headed towards Longton. We went through Longton down the Strand and onto Market Street before going up Anchor Road. At Adderey Green we turned left and went along Dividy Road through Bentilee. We stopped just off Dividy Road to pick up another service user. We then headed back to Adderley Green stopping at the Esso garage for Diesel. We carried on down Anchor Road before cutting through the top end off fenton and onto King Street. we then carried on down King Street on City Road. We saw Free Spirits white minibus MK52 PXH. We turned off City Road and went to our destination.

Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU in Fenton

Matthew spent time in the sensory room and on the computer before having sausge chips and gravy for dinner. In the afternoon we went to a different pub. As the weather was poor we walked to a local pub on Christchurch Street. Matthew used the toilet and had a glass of Coke. After a short while we headed to the day centre to get the bus back home. The bus set off onto Glebedale Street and carried on to Heron Street. WE went through Heron Cross passing Lightning Travel T2 DLT parked up near to the Lightning house. We headed through Blurton seeing First Potteries 53829 & 41498 on #23's. We got home around 15:00. At home Matthew had some toast and a drink of orangade. Just before 16:00 we set off to the bus stop. We walked all the way to Magdalen Road. Whilst we waited for the bus we saw Copeland's Tours Van Hool coach MIB 236 on school's work.

Copeland Tours MIB 236 in Blurton

With the bad weather and the roadworks the bus turned up around 10 late. Other than the fact it was a Caetano Dart, we did not know what the bus was going to be today. As it got closer we saw that it was Matthew last one of this batch required that is allocated to Newcastle, required First Potteries 41514.

First Potteries 41514 in Blurton

We got on the bus and booked to Harpfields Road. The bus set off onto A5035 and we were stuck in the roadworks traffic as we crossed over the railway line and into Trentham. In Trentham we caught up with and passed First Potteries 40373 on a #21B to Hanley. We carried on towards Hanford. We joined the A34 and went under the A500 in Trent Vale. We turned right into Harpfields Road and we got off the bus. We got off the bus jumping over a large puddle, and Matthew got another picture of First Potteries 41514.

First Potteries 41514 in Trent Vale

As can be seen in the foreground of the picture, there was a small problem with flooding here. We tried to walk towards the pub and cross flash Lane but the water was too deep to walk through. We headed back to tried anf get onto the A34 on the Harpfield Road side, and once again the water was too deep. In the end we spotted a small walled yard that didn't appear to be attached to anyone's property, we climbed over the wall and walked over to the A34. Luckily the pavement was under water at the other end of the yard. We sa w mum at this point driving down the road. The traffic was stopped but we could get to her because of the flood water. In the end we crossed the A34 and mum turned into a side street and picked us up! We then we back onto the A34 and drove the short distance to the pub. The pub was quieter than usual, presumably because of the bad weather. Matthew had a brunch with bread and butter followed by toffee sponge pudding with ice cream. Whilst we ate highlights of the passing buses were Stanton's of Stoke coach ONZ 1128.& ABC Supreme's new Iveco minibus FP53 ESU heading towards Newcastle. After we had finished eating we called Uncle Dave and we went to pick him up. We drove along the A34 and onto the Northbound A500. At the A500/A50 roundabout we saw Hodsons coach BIG 6268. We went East at the A50. We came off the A50 at Heron Cross and we dropped into Fenton. After we had picked up uncle Dave, we headed up to Heron Cross and through Blurton, getting home around 18:10. Matthew then chilled out watching bus videos and using his computer before bedtime around 00:00... Mark

Trip to Trent Vale 18-04-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
65727	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trent Vale, opp Chubb Way (Unmarked)	22	First Potteries

Today was by and large a bit of a chill day. Matthew had been in respite the day before and we decided that we would catch the bus up to Trent Vale to meet mum. Matthew got up around 10:30 after I went up to see him in his room and then he had toast and orange juice for breakfast. He spent most of the say on his computer catching up on what had been going on in Flickr for the last few days. For dinner I made him an omelette with some oven fries. I had been viewing what buses were out on the #22. Out of the three buses out today running a Saturday service, there was only one required one and that was First Potteries 65727. There is a rumour that this batch of Scanias are about to depart to Adderley Green. We find it easier to get Newcastle Scanias in, which we used to get on the #22A when it returned to Newcastle, and of late on the #22 when the service went over to be predominately worked by these buses. Once they go to Adderley Green they will be slightly harder for us to get. We worked out that 65727 would be on the 16:20 Longton - Newcastle departure, so we texted mum to arrange to meet in Trent Vale at the appropriate time. Just after 16:00 Matthew got dressed and we left the house and walked all the way to the stop on Magdalen Road. As we waited we were expecting to see the Longton bound #22 go past just before our bus arrived. As expected we saw First Potteries 66842 round the corner and Matthew got a picture of it.

First Potteries 66842 in Blurton

A few minutes later, First Potteries 65727 rounded the other corner and I flagged it down whilst Matthew got a picture of the bus.

First Potteries 65727 in Blurton

We booked our tickets and we sat down near the back of the bus. The bus pulled out onto the A5035 and we headed into Trentham. We then passed D&G 174 on the Trentham Plumline, before we saw First Potteries 40155 on the #21A Hanley service. We turned onto we Inn Lane and we could see a #21 to Hanley in front of us. We didn't manage to catch up with this bus as our bus kept stopping to let people off. When we got into Hanford the last off the people in front of us got off the bus and Matthew took a picture facing forwards.

Inside First Potteries 65727

At the top of Church Lane we passed 60059 on a Trentham bound #21 and we headed down the hill to join the A34. As we went towards the A500 we passed First Potteries 65035 on a southbound #101. This was followed quickly by First potteries 65732 on the third and final #22 turn. As we pulled over to the centre of the road to ,turn into Harpfields Road and we rang the bell and we stood up and got off the bus. Matthew got another picture of First Potteries 65727 before it headed off towards the hospital.

First Potteries 65727 in Trent Vale

We walked back onto the A34 and back to the pub where mum was waiting in the car in the pub car park. Inn the pub Matthew had his usual meal. It was sausage egg and chips with extras of bacon and bread and butter. This was followed by toffee sponge pudding and ice cream. After we had finished eat we went back to the car and gave Uncle Dave a call. Matthew had a conversation with him on the phone and then we set off to go and pick him up. We headed South on the A34 until we reached the A500. At the A500 we went North and then onto the Eastbound A50 which we did to Heron Cross. We went into Fenton and picked up Uncle Dave before we went back through Heron Cross. Here we saw T2 DLT near to the Lightning Travel base and we headed through Blurton. We caught up First Potteries 65727 again and we also caught up with First Potteries 40373 on a #23 to Newstead. Coming the other way was First Potteris 66842 on the Longton bound #22: We got home a little after 18:00. We chilled out, did a bit of gardening, watched the telly and Matthew watched bus videos on his computer. For a snack later on we had some lemon Meringue pie. Matthew continued to chill out on his computer and he went to bed around 00:00...Mark

Trip to Sherratts Wood 29-10-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJX	Shelton, opp Cemetery Road	Sherratts Wood	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	Sherratts Woods	Shelton, adj Cemetery Road	Charter	Aiming High

Today Matthew went to Sherratts Wood with Aiming High. He got up at around 08:45. After having some orange juice and toast we set off to Shelton around 09:30. On the way we passed First PMT 41495 & 41502 on the #23 service. We also passed first PMT 40016 on the #22 service. We Drove to Heron Cross and got on the A50. We then did the A500 up to Shelton New Road. We got to the place about 09:50 and Matthew took a picture of the minibus before going inside to wait for the time to go. It was Aiming High FJ10 BJX.

Aiming High FJ10 BJX in Shelton

we got on a little after 10:00 we set off to Sherratts Wood. As we left we saw First PMT double decker 34285 in Shelton. The route we took was down to the A500 and then South to the A50. we travelled along the A50 to Draycott and then along Cresswell Road for 3 miles. we then took a left to Morrilow Heath and to their destination. When they got there they had a look around the farm. The first animals we saw were Shetland Ponies.

A Shetland Pony at Sherratts Wood

we then walked around to see the other animal. These included Horses, Birds, Goats,a Cat and also Pigs.

A Pig at Sherratts Wood

we stopped for a while to eat their packed lunches before spending some time with the Shetland Ponies.

Another Shetland Pony being led at Sherratts Wood

we got on Around 14:00 we set off back towards Shelton they headed back to Draycott and then onto the A50. When we went passed Longton they diverted up to the high level so that we could see what buses were parked up at Z Carz. Parked up were Mercedes minibus BV51 BNO and the coach V690 EBC. we then carried on along to the end of the A50 before turning onto the Northbound A500. They turned off on Shelton New Road and then back to their base. Matthew used the toilet and then we arrived around 14:50 to pick him up. We went back down to the A500 and onto the A50 to Heron Cross. As we headed through Blurton we saw 40373 and 40009 on #23 service and we saw 40019 on a #22. We got back home a little after 15:00. Matthew had a nap before having beefburgers and potatoes for tea. We then settled down for the evening before bedtime...Mark

Trip to Hanley / Biddulph 22-09-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40373	Ladybank Grove , Blurton	Hanley BS	23A	First Potteries
234	Hanley BS	Smallethorne, Ashman Street	9	Bakerbus
248	Smallethorne, Ashman Street	Biddulph, High Street	9	Bakerbus
185	Biddulph, High Street	Longport, Longport Road	94A	Bakerbus

Today we decided to stay local. Matthew isn't due to go to the Meadows for a few weeks. We had no plan as such, we just decided that we would go to Hanley and then see what was out. Weather forecast for today was for sunshine and then sunny intervals. It had been raining for most of the week and it was forecast for rain from Sunday and so we were quite lucky. Matthew got up around 09:30 and had some toast for his breakfast. We set off around 12:00 and walked all the way to the Ladybank Grove bus stop. Whilst there we saw 40151 heading towards Longton on a #22 service and 40163 heading toward Longton the opposite way on a #23A service.

First Potteries 40163 in Blurton

We didn't have to wait for long before a hanley bus rounded the corner. It was dud First Potteries 40373. This is a bus that we had been on last year.

First Potteries 40373 in Blurton

We got on the bus and brought a Smart Day ticket. We sat on the near side of the bus on the hump, which is the best place to see out of the front window. The journey to Hanley was quite pleasant. In Stoke we passed 2 of the new to the Potteries double deckers. They were First Potteries 32627 and 32635. As we reached the edge of Hanley we saw Bakerbus Volvo B6 227 heading North, presumably on a #9 service. When we got to Hanley Matthew waited for the bus to empty and then got a picture of the inside of our bus.

Inside First Potteries 40373

Matthew and uncle Dave went onto the balcony, and I went to get some chips for diner. New to the Potteries fleet Dart 41499 was seen on a #7 Kidsgrove service. After that in came one of the double deckers.

First Potteries 32635 in Hanley bus station

Also seen for the first time was one of the Bakerbus Streetlites 254 on X75 service. East Lancs bodied Dart 40779 came into the bus station and then parked up. It was displaying #5 Abbey Hulton. We saw Arriva Midland 2706 on a #164 service. I think Matthew was quite keen to ride on this bus because he turned down a few other buses hoping that this would work. One such bus was step entranced Wardle Transport 4692 on a Derby bound X50 which we could have done to Blythe Bridge.

Wardle Transport 4692 on the X50 (Mark)

We saw an interesting Bakerbus 194 on the #9 which seemed to have seats similar to the GM Volvo's and Darts. We also saw Wardle Transport 2260 on a #41 service in the new livery.

Wardle Transport 2260 in Hanley bus station

We had spent an hour in the bus station, and Matthew now wanted to go to the toilet. The green tardis toilet at the end of the bus station was broken and the nearest one was at least 600 yds away through busy streets, so we decided to catch a bus to somewhere else with a toilet. I thought there was still a toilet in Smallthorne so we decided to do the next #9, which just happened to be required Bakerbus Primo 234. We got on the bus and sat near the back. It was the first time we had been on a Primo, despite there being quite a few locally in 2 different fleets. This bus was branded for working the X38 service from Congleton to Sandbach and Crewe. As we left hanley bus station we passed the row of bus parked up between duties. Wardle Transport 1421 & 1460 were 2 of the buses that were here. This bus was only going to Fegg Hayes so we decided to try and do the Smallthorne toilet. We got off and Matthew got a picture of this bus which is unusual in Stoke-on-Trent.

Bakerbus 234 in Smallthorne

We walked up Ford Green Road to the junction of Community Drive only to find a space were the tardis toilet once stood. Drat! So we went back to the bus stop to wait for the next Bidduplh service were we knew there was definitely a working toilet! Whislt we waited we saw a few buses come past. On such bus was Wardle Transport 2301 on a #62A service.

Wardle Transport 2301 in Smallthorne

Going the other way on the same service was Wardle Transport 2408.

Wardle Transport 2408 in Smallthorne

Just after that came a Hybrid double decker 247 going towards Hanley. We the saw another hybrid going towards Biddulph.It was dud Bakerbus 248 which we have been on twice before!

Bakerbus 248 in Smallthorne

We got on and went upstairs. As it was empty Matthew got his picture as we got on.

Inside Bakerbus 248

We then sat down to relax for the journey up. As we turned the corner into Chell Heath Road, we passed bakerbus 250 on a Hanley bound service. By the time we got to Biddulph it was just before 15:00. We went to the toilet and then sat in the bus waiting room. The next bus due was a #7A to Hanley which should have been at 15:13. it still hadn't turned up by around 15:25. When bakerbus 247 turned up just before 15:30 we asked Matthew if he wanted to do this but he said no. He decided now he wanted to go to the cafe in sainnsbury's, which we could have done 30 minutes earlier! We went upstairs to the cafe and he had a chocolate cake and a draught Pepsi. he also bought a millionaire's shortbread and a bottle of Lucozade for later. He then wanted to go shopping, so we went and got some cans of Coke and some cornflake cakes. After our unscheduled stop it was nearly 16:00. there was a 16:05 94A, which I thought we could do to Longport where we could meet mum. This turned out to be unrequired Bakerbus 185 which we had been on almost a year ago to the day!

Bakerbus 185 in Biddulph bus station

The bus was empty and so he got his picture straight away.

Inside Bakerbus 185

I texted mum to meet us at Longport for 16:30, and we sat back and enjoyed the journey. the bus was virtually empty most of the way with only a few people getting on during the entire 30 minute journey. As we went down through Pits Hill we saw Stanways minibus KX51 LWR. We got off and I didn't notice mum was parked up in the adjacent street. She honked the horn and I turned around...eventually. We stooped to pick up LPG at the BP garage in Longport. We got in the car and then headed off towards Longton to go past the Z Carz garage. Most off the coaches were parked up with Matthew getting a picture of V690 EBC.

Z Carz V690 EBC in Longton

We then headed home, and we saw First Potteries 40166 on a #23 service. We got in at approximately 17:00. After sausage mash and carrots for tea we settled for an evening of telly before bedtime...Mark

Trip to Park Hall 10-08-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40379	Finstock Avenue, Blurton	Lightwood Road	23	First Potteries
40138	Lightwood Road	Park Hall	26	First Potteries
61243	Park hall	Hanley BS	26	First Potteries
4650	hanley BS	Stafford Street, Hanley	61	Wardle Transport
40373	Hanley BS	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	23A	First Potteries

Matthew was taken out today by two people from a local organisation that are employed to look after young adults for a small fee and allow to access things they like to do. Last week was the first time and we broke them in gently by getting them to take Matthew to a local beauty spot by car and then he had a long walk. Today we upped the stakes slightly by arranging for them to take Matthew to Park Hall on the bus! Planning consisted of me printing out a journey plan for each direction using both the west midlands traveline web site for the outward journey and the national traveline door to door website for the return. The journey were deliberately planned for Matthew to change buses in quiet streets well away from any bus stations to ensure maximum success for them in carrying out this task. with instructions in hand and bus fare and travel pass we waved then off and they set off on the long walk to the stop. The journey the WM traveline suggested was one that i would have never though of and it evolved using the half hourly #23 Blurton to Longton via Newstead service to the outskirts of Longton, before catching the #26 forward to Park Hall. They didn't have to wait long before unrequired 40379.


40379 on the #23 Longton Service (Matt)

As far as I am aware this bus was done as per instructions on to Lightwood Road crossed the road and waited.I think they must have missed a bus and had to wait around 30 minutes for the #26 which on this occasion was required 40138. meaning Matthew has now been on both ex chester AG allocated darts in less than two weeks.


40138 on a #26 Meir and the Hanley (Matt)

Matthew we got off at Park Hall around 11:50 and had a wander around for a short while. The weather deteriorated and so the workers decide to go off the plan and catch a bus into Hanley. They waited for the bus around 12:30 and we dropped onto required 61243.


61243 on a 26 Hanley service (Matt)

Once in Hanley Matthew took then up onto the balcony so he could keep and eye on all the comings and goings and also to get pictures. When they suggested to Matthew catching a bus to back to Blurton he wasn't having any of it! He spent 40 minutes up there and they eventually persuaded him down with a drink in the cafe. At this point we spotted Wardle Transport double decker 4650 on a #61 and told them he wanted to catch it. with some quick thinking, they decided to do it for 1 stop so he could get a ride on it. as he got off he got a picture.


4650 in Hanley on a #61 to Tunstall (Matt)

Walking back to the bus station, we saw 'new to the potteries' East Lancs bodied Dennis Dart 40779, and Matthew got a quick snap of it.


Newbie 40779 see on the #1/#2 circuit in Hanley (Matt)

Back at the bus station Matthew was persuaded to get on unrequired Dennis Dart 40373 on a #23A Blurton, which unfortunately he did not get a photograph of. Matthew was a little bit moody when he came home but I think the people looking after him generally did a good job and did some quick thinking. I think they certainly learned a few things today from Matthew :-) ...Mark

Trip on the last Sunday #164 10-07-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40373	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	Stoke railway station	23	First Potteries
61143	Signal Radio, Stoke Road	Campbell Place, Stoke	21	First Potteries
66845	Church Street, Stoke	Newcastle bus station	25	First Potteries
2902	Newcastle bus station	Hanley bus station	164	Arriva Midlands
61556	Hanley bus station	Longton transport interchange	6B	First Potteries

As Matthew hadn't been out much this month and today was the last running of the Sunday 164, I decided to take him out today to try and get a ride on this service. The original plan was to catch the 14:00 Newcastle - Longton #22 bus to Longton, catch a 6B to Hanley in order to meet the 164 in Hanley bus station. The bus was due through Blurton at 14:22 so we set off to the bus stop on Trentham Road just before 14:10. After waiting for 25 minutes for this bus, we had to assume that this bus had broken down or the driver was unable to complete this turn. So we followed the route through Blurton to the Ladybank Grove stop. the next #23 bus was due at 14:54 so we waited here for the Hanley bus. As we waited it started to rain so the coats cam out of the bag. The #23 turned up at around 15:00 with dud 40373 for power.


40373 in Blurton on the #23 to Hanley (Matt)

At this point the #22 still hadn't come past in either direction so I can only assume that this leg of the diagram did not run. The reason the #23 was running late is because there was a young girl trying to dodge paying her fare. As her mother got off the bus the young girl miraculously found her ticket, which must have been a 'week student' ticket. When asked to produce a student cards she couldn't. The mum came back on to the bus to see if there was a problem and the driver ascertained that the ticket belonged to her. The younger girl was asked to pay the fare of get off the bus! As a result of this action the bus was 10 minutes late when it left Ladybank Grove. Our plan B was to got to Stoke station (15:12) and to pick up the 164 outside Signal Radio (15:20). As we got off the bus matthew took a quick picture.


40373 outside Stoke railway station (Matt)

We jogged the 400 or so yards to the Signal Radio stop on Stoke Road. As the bus had been made late by the fare dodger we weren't able to make this bus. We saw 40022 on a 21A and we let this go, hoping that the #164 still might turn up. it soon came apparent that we had definitely missed the bus so I used the '84268' system to find the next bus time. There was a #21 at 15:46. I thought that this might make the #22 in Trent Vale, which we could catch up to Newcastle (we'll call this plan 'C'...). The bus turned up and it was ex Chester 61143 which was required.


61143 outside Signal Radio (Matt)

When the bus stopped at the lights over the A500 it vibrated quite a bit! As this bus was also a couple of minutes late, and it was also a bit shaky, I decide to get off in stoke to head towards Newcastle from there. With service #25, #26 and #41, there bound to be something to get us up to Newcaslte for 16:50. When we got off I consulted to bus stop timetables. there was a #25 at 16:22 which should get us to Newcastle with plenty of time to meet the 164 (Plan 'D'). Whilst we waited we were able to take some pictures.


60063 on a Hanley bound #26 (Matt)


D&G 91 on a #41 to Hanley (Matt)

After around 20 minutes and a few buses later, required 66845 turned up on the #25...


First Potteries 66845 on a #25 to Keele (Matt)

When we got to Newcastle we saw Scraggs 80 on the 16:30 to Longtom. It would seem that plan 'D' actually worked and we would finally catch up with the #164. Matthew then got another picture of 66845.


66845 in Newcastle bus station (Matt)

We also saw 40019 on the #72 Clayton and then D&G 41 on the #85 Crewe service...


D&G 41 on #85 Crewe (Matt)

Another bus we saw whilst waiting was D&G 106 on the 94A to Audley.


D&G 106 on a #94A to Audley (Matt)

Shortly after that we eventually saw what we had been waiting for. Arriva Midlands 2902 on the last Northbound Sunday #164 service.


Last Northbound #164; 2902 in Newcastle bus station (Matt)

As we got on Matthew tried to do something that he shouldn't and nearly got us in to trouble. Luckily the driver ignored his bad behaviour. When we got to Hanley he tried to do the same thing again! needless to say he won't be going on a Arriva Midlands bus in Hanley on a Sunday again (unless the timetable changes...). When we got off we were able to take another picture of this beast.


Last Southbound #164; 2902 in Hanley bus station (Matt)

At this point i gave Matthew a choice of a few buses he could catch. he could have done a 21A to Trentham, a #25 to stoke or a 6B to Longton. Matthew choice to do 61556 on the 6B. We left the balcony and waited for the driver to return to this bus.


61556 on a #6B to Blythe Bridge (Matt)

At Longton we were able to get a few more pictures before mum picked us up. 60011 was on a #26...


60011 on a #26 (Matt)

We got another picture of ex Chester 61556...


61556 continues to Blythe Bridge (Matt)

Another ex Chester bus also turned up which Matthew got a picture of...


61554 in Longton transport interchange (Matt)

Also old-school Scania 60073 starting to look it's age...


60073 in Longton transport interchange (Matt)

Shortly after this mum turned up to rescue us. We went home and had Pizza for tea... Mark

Trip to renew the bus pass 03-06-2010

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40373	Church Street, Stoke	Hanley BS	23A	First PMT
60201	Hanley BS	The Avenue, Kidsgrove	34A	First PMT

Matthew's bus pass ran out yesterday, so we planned on renewing the pass and possibly going somewhere with him. By the time Matthew had got up and dressed today, we had ruled out going anywhere distant. First we took him to have his hair cut (mum didn't want his new picture with long messy hair), and then we drove down to Stoke to visit the one stop shop. Paperwork shown and new photograph taken, five minutes later he had his new bus pass.

First thing to do was to have a late dinner, as he had only had two rounds of toast for a late breakfast. So we went to the Cafe across the road from the one stop shop. We managed to get a window seat and Matthew watched buses go by as he ate his dinner...



Scraggs Blue bus PUI 5558 in Church Street, Stoke (Matthew)


After dinner it was obvious to us that Matthew wasn't going to accept just picking up the bus pass and he wanted to ride. Having first told us that he wanted to do the 24 to Hanley, Matthew choose at 23A that was parked opposite awaiting time. Had he been more patient, he could have had step entranced D&G dart 31 towards Newcastle (L170 CKH), which we passed going up College Road.



Inside 40373 (Matthew)



40373 in Hanley bus station (Mark)

When we got to Hanley, I persuaded him to go up to the balcony whilst he thought about which bus he wanted to catch next. Unusually, there were two double deckers parked up (31518/9), a rare site in Hanley these days.



31519 in Hanley bus station (Mark)

When 60201 rolled into the bus station, Matthew decided he wanted to do this bus. It was on a 34A to Kidsgrove. I have never done this bus service throughout before, Hanley to Kidsgrove via Newcastle. What an epic journey! This run takes over an hour! It didn't help that it was boiling hot and bus kept stop to wait time. When the bus stops, the cooler air stops! Eventually around 17:00 we arrive in Kidsgrove...



60201 disappears into the distance (Matthew)



60205 in Kidsgrove (Matthew)

After we arrived in Kidsgrove, we walked the long way to the car park where mum was waiting

(Mark)