Trip to the Black Lion 21-04-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
42726	Heron Cross	Longton Hall Road	23	First Potteries
40137	Longton Hall Road	Trent Vale, adj Woodlands Rd	22	First Potteries
40176	Trent Vale, opp Black Lion	Hanford opp Man in Space	21	First Potteries
40137	Hanford opp Man in Space	Blurton Road, Blurtn	22	First Potteries
40169	Blurton Road, Blurton	Heron Cross	23	First Potteries

Today Matthew went to the Black Lion again. Matthew was in respite so we arranged for a PA to go with him. He got up at 07:00 and had breakfast whilst he wait for the time when his PA arrived. At 12:00 the PA arrived and they set off to the bus stop in Heron Cross. Whilst there we saw Wardle Transport 1454,1450,1455.1453. If fact we saw the whole fleet. Wardle put on a special bus parade for him. Even the one that weren't fit to work were towed past on the back of a truck. They Walked to Heron Cross to wait for the Blurton bus. Copeland's tours MIB 783 was seen working on the #40. When the bus turned up it was required 42726.

First Potteries 42726 in Heron Cross

The bus was done to Blurton where Matthew was able to get another picture of this bus.

42726 in Blurton

Matthew visited the BP garage. They then crossed the road to wait for the 13:05 from Longton to Newcastle. After a short while the #22 turned up and it was Ex Chester 40137.

First Potteries 40137 in Blurton

They did this bus to the other side of the Black Lion and got off to Walk back.40153 was also seen on the #22 service. He then got another picture of the bus. Trip between stuff.

40137 in Trent Vale

Whilst out Matthew had his usual dinner of Sausage Chips Egg and Beans with Toffee pudding for afters. After dinner they walked to the stop opposite the Black Lion. The bus turned up and it was required 40176. Matthew got a picture of this bus.

First Potteries 40176 in Trent Vale

Out and about Copeland Tours Coach MIB 246 was also seen. Matthew visited the Co-op. The bus was done to the Man in Space in Trentham where he got another picture of this beast.

40176 in Trentham

Whilst waiting for the #22 he saw 40150 heading towards Newcastle and also another 61244 was seen on a #21. He also saw 40751 did the following #21A.

First Potteries 40751 in Trentham

Ex First Manchester 34069 is a great bus. After a short wait the #22 appeared and it was 40137 again.

First Potteries 40137 in Trentham

When he got off he got another picture of this bus.

40137 in Blurton

The journey was swift. The final leg of the trip from Blurton 30038 is a beast and it was 40169. He got a picture of this before he go on it.

First Potteries 40169 in Blurton

They did the bus to Heron Cross before walking back to the respite unit for his tea. He had a bath later and then chilled out before bedtime..Mark

Trip to Stoke 28-06-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
T131 SAG	Blurton	Abbey Hulton	Charter	Z carz
DX56 FYZ	Abbey Hulton	Park hall	Charter	Blackfriars
T412 JUX	Park hall	Trentham	Charter	Z carz
T413 JUX	Trentham	Abbey Hulton	Charter	Star Travel
S973 OVR	Abbey Hulton	Blurton	Charter	Z carz
40027	Waterside Drive, Shepley Grove	Stoke railway station	23	First Potteries
60194	Stoke railway station	Church Street, Stoke	25	First Potteries
66839	Church Street, Stoke	Stoke railway station	25	First Potteries
2933	Stoke railway station	Stanley Matthews Way, Hem Heath	500	Wardle Transport

T131 SGA was the power for this morning, once at college he did college transport to Park Hall. He then did T412 JUX to Trentham. He then did Star Travel T413 JUX to Abbey Hulton. he returned home on VW minibus S973 OVP.

It was a fine evening so we decided to go out tonight. I went to view the 23a diagram which was 40027. This wasn't a required bus but we hadn't been on it since January 2009! We walked the short distance to the Shepley Grove stop and after a short wait sure enough 40027 appeared.


40027 in Newstead (Matt)

A short journey later and we were by Stoke station. in this fine summer evening Matthew was able to get a good picture here.


40027 outside Stoke railway station (Matt)

We crossed the road and waited for the #25 which was a Newcastle bus and usually required. Whilst waiting the other 23 diagram turned up with it's usual power 'dinky donut' 40003.


40003 outside Stoke railway station (Matt)

A few minutes later the #25 turned up and it didn't disappoint! It was Ex Manchester Scania 60194! We then did the short run into Stoke town Centre where he got a good picture.


60194 in Church Street Stoke (Matt)

We noticed we hadn't passed the Hanley bound 25 this time, and there were people at the stop so we crossed the road to wait for that bus. Unfortunately there was a drunk who was a bit abusive. We just smiled and kept our fingers crossed he didn't turn violent. I often have to hold Matthews hand to keep him safe, so he called us a derogatory term for homosexuals! As we got on the bus the drunk also called everyone on the bus w*****rs because they wouldn't have a sing song! the bus was 66839. one which Matthew had been on before with his respite carers, but I had not. We got off at the station thankful to be in one piece...


66839 outside Stoke railway station (Matt)

We then had Approximately 10 minutes before the 500. the bus turned up and it was same as last time Solo 2933. the bus was reasonably well filled up to the distribution centre and then we were the only one left on. Before we got off Matthew got a picture of the inside.


Inside 2933 (Matt)

he then got an OK picture as it went to turn around for the Norton leg of the journey.


2933 on Stanley Matthews Way (Matt)

Another good nights bus travel slightly marred by the drunken fool...Mark