Trip to Rudyard Lake 29-05-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJX	Shelton, opp Cemetery Road	Rudyard Lake	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	Rudyard Lake	Hanley Park	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	Hanley Park	Shelton, adj Cemetery Road	Charter	Aiming High

Today Matthew had an Aiming High trip arranged. Matthew got up just after 08:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. They sat off around 09:30 onto the A5035 past the hem Heath pub. They continued onto New Inn Lane and followed First Potteries 40154 along on a #21A to Bradeley. They stopped at the Wrights Pie shop n Hanford and picked up some mini sausage rolls to put i his packed lunch. Shopping done they carried on down Mayne Street and onto the Northbound A34. At Hanford roundabout they tuned right onto the Northbound A500. They did this up to Shelton New Road where we turned and then parked up at the Crossroads building. He said goodbye to mum and went into the building to use the toilet. When everyone was ready they went out to the bus, which was the usual aiming High vehicle for Shelton FJ10 BJX.

Aiming High FJ10 BJX in Shelton

Matthew and friends got on the buses and they set off towards Rudyard Lake. They went along Shelton New Road up to Snow Hill and onto Broad Street. We passed 40373 on a #21 service. We went onto the ring road which we did around to Bucknall New Road. We went down Limekiln bank and turned left onto Leek Road. We then carried on along this road until we reached the A53 Which we did forward to Leek. We went trough the town and onto the A523. We saw First Potteries 40383 on a #18 service. We carried on along the A523 to Rudyard where we off parked adjacent to the lake. We stopped at the visitors centre, where Matthew went to the toilet. We then walked over to the boast which we were going to be using today. It was a twin hulled, rowing boat.

Matthew's boat for the day at Rudyard Lake

We sat in the boat and we decided that today we would row over the lake in one single long session. Part way along Matthew got bored with rowing and he threw his oar into the lake. After the oar was retrieved he decided from this point on he was just going to relax and let everyone else do the work. He got a picture of cattle grazing close to the shore of the lake.

A view from the boat

They headed back to shore and then we had our packed lunch was down with more orange juice. They had a bit of time to spare, so after visiting the toilet again they set of back to Hanley Park. They headed down the A523 into Leek. We saw 40375 on a #18 service. We then did the A53 to Badderley Green and then onto Leek Road. We passed Wardle Transport 2038. We did Leek Road down to Botteslow street before cutting across Lichfield street into Shelton before parking up in Hanley Park. After 30 minutes here they returned to the minibus and headed back across Stoke Road to the Crossroads building. He went inside to use the toilet and photographed the sink. We picked up at 15:00 and we drove from Shelton New road to the A53 to pick up some LPG. Whilst we were filling up we spotted First Potteries 34158 on a #34 to Audley. After getting LPG We carried o Along the A53 to the A500. We did this south to the A50 and then to Longton. There were a few buses parked up by Z Carz today. was there as well as mini coach W344 WNS.

Z Carz W344 WNS in Longton

We also saw recent arrival W221 CDN.

Z Carz W221 CDN in Longton

Then we spotted a new vehicle to Z Carz, Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

We turned passed the Willow Row compound to see if there was anything there. Lightning minibus FD53 UNX and MJ03 DPU were inside the building. T408 JUX was also there. We got back onto the A50 and headed to heron Cross where and then picked up uncle Dave. We picked him up and we headed through heron Cross through Blurton. We got back home at around 16:00. around 17:00 i went to fetch some food for tea from the chip shop. We had sausage chips and gravy. Matthew had a chill out on his computer before we went to uncle Dave's around 20:20. We went via Blurton Road and Heron Cross. Here we drank pop, ate custard creams, watched telly and listened to music on uncle Dave's computer. Around 22:00 we left uncle Dave's and got onto the A500. We Headed South to the A519 where we got onto Whitmore Road. We went down to the A34 and then onto the A5035 we stopped at Nat West to use the cash machine and carried on along the A5035 and to home. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until going bed until around 00:00...Mark

Trip to Blackbrook Zoo 11-04-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJY	Turnhurst Road	Blackbrook Zoo	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJY	Blackbrook Zoo	Turnhurst Road	Charter	Aiming High

Today we had a trip to Blackbrook zoo arranged for Matthew. he got up at 07:30 which during the college holidays is amost unheard of. He had is breakfast of toast and juice and mum and Matthew left at 08:30. They went onto the A5035 and turned into Stanley Matthews Way past the Hem Heath pub. At the other end they joined the Westbound A50 and then onto the Northbound A500. Tey drove up to The A527 Tunstall by-pass and then across to the top of High Lane before turning towards Packmoor. Mum dropped Matthew off at the place and Matthew went to the computer room. When everyone was ready to go we went out to the minibus which was Aiming High FJ10 BJY.

Aiming High FJ10 BJY in Packmoor

we got on and sat down we set off towards The A527 and we went South down High Lane to Smallthorne. we passed bakerbus 186 as we went down ford Green Road and First Potteries 40025 on the 8B. They carried on through Norton Green and brown edge and they met up with the A53 at Endon. They carried on to Leek. we saw Clowes coaches L809 CJF as they passed though Leek. They then headed down the A523 to Winkhill. On the way we passed Clowes Coaches N880 AVV on the #108 to Macclesfield. At winkhill they tuned into the side road to Blackbrook Zoo. When we got to the Zoo Matthew went to the toilet. we walked around the zoo and we looked at the Storks.

Stork

we carried on around and then we stopped at the Meerkat enclosure where Matthew took another picture.

A Meerkat

we then stopped to have there packed lunch. in Matthews case this was chicken sandwiches with a carton of orange juice and a wagon Wheel too. They carried on to the Humboldt Penguin enclosure. The Penguins were fed whilst they were there. here come the Penguins to get there food.

Penguins

After we had been fed Matthew took a picture of one of them having a swim.

A Penguin swimming

we then moved on to the big bird enclosure where they saw ostriches and rheas.

A Rhea

Just after 12:00 we were ready to leave so we said goodbye to the animals and climbed aboard FJ10 BJY to come back. we headed back on to The A523 and then towards Leek. On the way we saw Clowes Coaches M127 YCM on a 235 service to Cheadle. we go to leek and then did the A53 to Endon. On the way we passed First Potteries 40378 and 42727. At Endon they turned towards brown edge and then through Norton Green and to Smallthorne. At the bottom of Smallthorne we turned towards Bradeley and Chell Heath past Heathfield. we turned up towards high lane and then Turnhurst. At the roundabout we headed towards the school. Mum was waiting for them when we arrived before getting in the car Matthew jumped into a taxi to have a look inside. They went to Hanley via High Lane. We saw Wardle transport 2409 on the #500 to Blurton. In Hanley we tried to find a parking space by the Potteries shopping Centre, but as we couldn't they headed home along Victoria Road. On Victoria Road we stopped at wrights pies for a sausage roll, a Manchester tart and a chocolate cake. we carried on along the A50 and to heron cross. on the way how we passed First Potteries 41521 on a #23 service. we got home around 13:45. He chilled out on his computer in the afternoon before having some cheesecake for an afternoon snack. For tea we had bangers and mash followed by more cheesecake. He then chilled out before bedtime around 00:20...Mark

Trip to Packmoor / Hanley 16-02-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
GN60 GZM	Packmoor	YMCA Hanley	Charter	Middlehurst
GN60 GZM	YMCA Hanley	Packmoor	Charter	Middlehurst

Today Matthew was going on an Aiming trip to the YMCA in Hanley to do activities such as archery. We got up around 08:30, and then we realised that the activity started at 09:30 so we rushed to get ready and we set off just after 09:00. We drove onto the A5035 and onto Stanley Matthew Way past the Hem Heath pub. We then got onto the Westbound A50 and then the Northbound A500. We got off the a500 and did the Tunstall by-pass up to Packmoor turning left at the top of the hill. We got there just in time and Matthew we down to the computer room as he usually does as he waited for time. When it was time to go he got a picture of his transport which was unusually Middlehurst bus GN60 GZM instead of the usual Aiming High vehicle.

Middlehurst GN60 GZM about to set off for the YMCA

The bus left and went onto the A5272 to the edge of Hanley then around the ring road. They left the rod near the fire station and then drove down to the YMCA. First activity of the day was archery, and reports came came that Matthew did really well at this.

Archery in the YMCA

They then had a stint on the climbing wall, which is something he has done before so we knew he could do this well.

Climbing wall in the YMCA

They then set off back to Middlehurst. They went up to the ring road and back along the a5272 to Chell continuing on to middlehurst. He had a quick session on the computers before we arrived to pick him up at 12:30. Whilst mum talked to staff about his activities I drove him down the car park to get a picture of Aiming High FJ10 BJY in the bottom car park.

Aiming High FJ10 BJY in Middlehurst

We turned around and he got another picture of GN60 GZM before we left.

Middlehurst GN60 GZM back at school

We had decided to go Westport Lake for the afternoon but we had left uncle Dave at home. So we decided to pick up some food and go back before setting off to Westport Lake. We drove down the Tunstall by-pass down to the A500. We then drove south to the A50 and then came off at Heron Cross. We passed Lightning Travel NX03 JYJ and visitor WX06 VSA currently being worked on. We stopped at the new sandwich shop on Blurton Road and ordered some food before returning home passing 41512 on the #23. After eating the food we set off back to Westport Lake. We went along Stanley Matthews Way to the A50 and northbound on the A500, We came off at Longport and we saw 40145 on a Newcastle service. We then went up to Trubshaw Cross and turned towards Tunstall before turning off for Westport Lake. We had brought brown bread and seeds to feed the birds, and we spent around an hour going around the lake and feeding birds.

Ducks and geese in Westport lake

When we got back round to the car there was an ice cream van so mum and Matthew had some ice cream. We then set off on a bit of an extended drive home. We headed North through Tunstall and toward Kidsgrove. We passed 61143 on a Southbound #20 and we could see a Northbound #20 in front of us. We eventually caught it up a mile or so up the road and it was 60015. We carried on up the A50 to Fourlanes End before turning right. We travelled through the village of Smallwood and a few mile on before reaching the A34. We headed South through Scholar Green and Talke. When we crossed the A500 we saw Bakers Coach 3563 RU which we followed down to Milehouse. We passed the Newcastle First depot where we saw 40017/018/60069/205. We the headed up George Street and onto shelton new road before joining the Southbound A500. We did this to the A50, and we got off the A50 at Longton to view the Z Carz depot. There were only 3 buses present today. First we saw Scania coach D104 XAN...

Z Carz D104 XAN in Longton

We the saw coach V690 EBC...

Z Carz V690 EBC in Longton

Last but not least we saw LDV minibus T408 JUX

Z Carz T408 JUX in Longton

We then headed down Longton hall Road, stopping at the shops for lottery tickets, pop and cakes! We passed 40153 on the #22 and passed 41512 on the #23 again. We got home just after 16:00. We had a late tea of bangers and mash and Matthew chilled out on his computer before bedtime...Mark

Trip to the Snowdome 25-11-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJX	Cemetery Road, Shelton	Snowdome, Tamworth	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	Snowdome, Tamworth	Cemetery Road, Shelton	Charter	Aiming High

Today Matthew went to the Snowdome with Aiming High. He got up around 09:00 and had some toast and juice for breakfast. It was a sunny and cold day and we set off towards Shelton around 11:15. We headed to Heron Cross before getting on the Westbound A50. At the A500 we headed North until we reached the Shelton New Road. As we headed up Shelton new road we passed 40147 running towards Newcastle 'out of service'. We soon reached our destination on Cemetery Road. And we dropped Matthew off. He got a picture of his bus for the day, Aiming High FJ10 BJX before he got on it.

Aiming High FJ10 BJX in Shelton

They then set off down to the A500 and then headed South. They got on the M6 at Hanford and headed South. they then travelled South to the A449 junction. They then headed back North to a Pub called the catch Corner where they stopped to use the toilet. They got back onto the Southbound M6 which they did to the toll road. They did the M6 toll over to the junction of the A5. They then travelled into Tamworth and to the Snowdome. They had 2 session in the Snowdome doing different activities. It was dark and pictures didn't come out very well. Here is on of the pictures from the first session.

Inside the Snowdome...

After the first session they came out and ate their packed lunches. Matthew also went to the toilet. They then went back into for there second stint before returning to the minibus. As they were about to leave Matthew saw a couple of minibuses which he managed to get pictures of. First he saw Shire Travel International minibus NK51 DKH alongside there bus.

Shire Travel NK51 DKH in Tamworth

This was then joined by another vehicle, Mercedes minibus R582 DYG.

Shire Travel R582 DYG in Tamworth

They then set off towards home. They went back along the A5 and onto the M6. They then went back up the A500 to the Stoke Road junction before returning to Shelton. They got back at 16:05. We apsked Matthew if he wanted to visit Chunky Chicken for his tea as we had the Blog to write this evening. He said yes so we went up to snow hill and parked in the street adjacent to Chunky Chicken. Matthew went the toilet and we had Chicken popcorn and fries. Whilst we were there we saw 4 buses go past. 65035 went past on a #101 service. New First Potteries Solo 53405 was on a #21A and 60060 was on a #21 going into Hanley. We also saw National Express coach FJ11 GMV too. After we had finished eating we headed home. We went down Shelton New Road and then got onto the Southbound A500. We did this to the A50 and then went along Stanley Matthew Way past the Hem Heath pub. We then got home around 17:00. We then wrote the Blog for St Helens and then Matthew had a bath before bedtime...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 Rudyard Lake 30-09-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJX	Shelton, opp Cemetery Road	Rudyard Lake	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	Rudyard Lake	Shelton, adj Cemetery Road	Charter	Aiming High

Today Matthew went to Rudyard Lake with Aiming High. He could have gone on the but wasn't selected for the trip on that occasion. We checked the weather for today and it was for rain starting sometime in the morning. We woke Matthew up around 08:30 bu he wasn't to keen on going today. We persuaded him to get up and if he didn't fancy going when hr got to Shelton that he could come home. We set off a little after 09:30 and as we travelled up we realised that we didn't have any spare batteries we had to call in a shop in Hartshill to make sure that he had some. Whilst in Hartsill we saw First Potteries 32627 on a #25 to Hanley. We got to Shelton just before 10:00 and Matthew took a picture of FJ10 BJX whilst it was parked up empty.

Aiming High FJ10 BJX in Shelton

Matthew went into the building to use their toilet. When he came out we said goodbye and left him there. They then travelled up through Hanley to Cobridge. They did the A53 up to leek and then did the A523 to the lake. When they go there Matthew took a picture of the Lake.

A view of the lake

They also went on the steam train today. After a short wait Victoria turned up on their train.

Victoria on the Rudyard Lake Steam Railway

After getting off the train Matthew took another picture of the Lake.

Another view of the Lake

They then got on the Sailability boat and had a quick trip over the Lake. When they got back they watched some ducks at the Lake edge.

Ducks on Rudyard Lake

It was then back to the Aiming High bus FJ10 BJX and back to Shelton on the reverse route that they took up to the Lake. They took the A523 to Leek and then onto the A53, they then turned at Cobridge and went around Hanley. Matthew went past the bus station and we saw 60189 on a #20 service. we also saw 61243 on a #21. They then headed to Shelton. Matthew came home with a couple of Aining High workers. They came along Victoria road to Fenton and then did the A50 link road and to Heron Cross. They then went toward Blurton. When he got back he saw a Wardle Transport bus approaching on the #22 service. As it got closer he got a picture of the bus, Wardle Transport 2541.

Wardle Transport 2541 on the #22 service

When Matthew got home we finished the saw Wigan Coachways DSK 516.up on Ladybank Grove. we saw Z Carz T408 JUX on a 408 Service then had chicken Popcorn and fries and a trifle for afters for tea, before having a bath and going to bed...Mark

Trip on the Beatrice 26-08-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJX	Cemetery Road, Shelton	Cheddleton	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	Cheddleton	Cemetery Road, Shelton	Charter	Aiming High

Today Matthew was due to go on the Beatrice but he didn't really want to go out! We persuaded him to get up and told him that if he wasn't going to go out he had to tell the Crossroads workers himself. When They turned up a little a little after 09:00 he decided that he was going to go after all! Off he went to meet up with the rest of the group at Shelton. Matthew went past the Hem Heath pub and along Stanley Matthews Way. They then got onto the A50 and then onto the A500. They cme o the A500 at Shelton New Road and to Cemetery Road. The bus was waiting and it was the usuual Crossroads based Aiming High bus FJ10 BJX.

Aiming High FJ10 BJX in Shelton

After calling into John Street on Hanley they set off towards Cheddleton. They headed off to Meir, and then went along the A520 though to Cheddleton. Scraggs Blue bus 42 was on the #16 service. They then spent a few hours in the Beatrice.

The Beatrice at her moorings in Cheddleton

After boarding the barge Matthew informs me that they headed South East out of Cheddleton towards the railway. They passed a few moored barges. One such barge was this black one named Kurt.

A barge named Kurt

After passing through a lock they passed another barge coming the other way.

A barge on the move

Another barge they saw was this blue one called Walveran.

Walveran

They must have turned around and headed back to the mooring. This gave Matthew a chance to photograph a few moor barges such as this red and green on.

A different red and green barge

After the barge got back to the mooring they got back on Aiming High Fj10 BJX before going back down the A520 to Cellarhead and then across through Bucknall . They went passed Scraggs depot and saw Blue Buses 64 and 1655 VT. He then went on the A5008 to Hanley and then Shelton. He got off the bus and into the the car of one of the staff. They went along Shelton New Road to the A500. They got onto the A50 up to Longton. On the way home He passed Z Carz depot which had T131 SGA parked up there along with BV51 BNO and T408 JUX. They then went past Longton bus station traveling down he old A50 through Fenton. He went on the A50 link road to Heron Cross going past Duke Street. He the went though Heron Cross before traveling home passing Wardle Transport 2532 on the #22 service. He got home a little after 15:15 and then he settled down for the evening. He had chicken popcorn or tea and had a bath before bedtime...Mark

Trip to Rudyard Lake 15-08-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJX	Shelton, opp Cemetery Road	Rudyard Lake	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	Rudyard Lake	Shelton, adj Cemetery Road	Charter	Aiming High

Today Matthew was going to Rudyard Lake. This was the third time he was due to go to Rudyard Lake this year, but it was the first time he actually got to go. The first the time the weather was really poor ans it was cancelled at short notice, the second time was the 15th July, The day before he was due to go and told us it was cancelled because the boat had broke and he went to Tatton Park instead. We checked the weather for today, and it said it would be clear until around 12:00 with rain moving in for the afternoon. Matthew got up a little after 08:00. He needed a little bit of persuasion to get up, but he got out of bed eventually and had toast for breakfast. He was picked up by a couple of members of staff from Crossroads and they took him up the Shelton to meet the bus. On the way up he passed Wardle Transport 4777 on the X50. When he got to Shelton his transport for the day was waiting. It was Aiming High FJ10 BJX.

Aiming High FJ10 BJX in Shelton

They went up to John Street in Hanley to pick up a few others and whilst there he saw First Potteries 60013 on a #20 to Crewe. Also in Hanley they saw GHA single decker SB27 on the X81. He also saw First 60081 on the #34. They headed North Eastwards to Leek and then up the A523 to Rudyard Lake. They also stopped at a new Shell garage. At the lake Matthew took a few pictures. Here is a picture of the lake with many boats moored up on there.

Boats on Rudyard Lake

Later he took a picture of the jetty.

The jetty on Rudyard Lake

They went out on a boat for a while and then it started to rain heavily so the headed back to shore.

Another jetty on Rudyard Lake

After they got back to shore they decided to have a trip on the Rudyard Lake Steam Railway. It was the red tank engine King Aurthur on his train.

King Aurthur at The Dam station

After a round trip on the railway, they headed back to the minibus and headed homewards. Matthew also saw a coach parked up at the lake. He headed back to shelton. They travelled down the A523 and then onto the A53. At Cobridge they turned left toeards Hanley. They then went around Hanley and then to Shelton along Shelton New Road. The two members of staff drove him home and saw Mercedes minibus N257 BWC. In Stoke he saw 60063 on the #26 service. they then went through Fenton to the A50 link road and then to Heron Cross and Blurton. Matthew got home a little earlier than expected just before 15:00. He then had his usual Wednesday night of a chippy tea and then a visit to Uncle Dave's before returning home just before bedtime...Mark

Trip to Chester Zoo 31-07-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJY	Middleshurst, Packmoor	Chester Zoo	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJY	Chester Zoo	Middleshurst, Packmoor	Charter	Aiming High

Today Matthew was going Chester Zoo with Aiming High. The weather for today was grey skies and showers so we packed a coat in his rucksack as well as his packed lunch. Matthew got up at around 08:30 and he had some breakfast. We departed for Middlehurst around 09:30. On the way up to the A50 at Heron Cross we saw Copeland's Tours MIB 978 loading up on Blurton Road.

Copeland's Tours MIB 978 loads in Blurton

We then carried on to Middlehurst to meet the rest of the group getting there a little before 10:00. Everyone else was waiting inside, so we used the opportunity to go and take a picture of the bus he was travelling up to Chester Zoo on, Aiming High FJ10 BJY.

Aiming high's FJ10 BJY in Middlehurst

I said goodbye to him and left him there. A little after 10:00 he would have set off to Chester Zoo. The route was along the Tunstall by-pass, North along the A500 up to Nantwich. On the way we saw Copelands Tours MIB 236 going to Bolton. From there they went to the A51 and then Westbound to Chester. In Chester we saw GHA MX56 AAZ and First Manchester 65738. They then headed North through town to the Zoo. They parked up in the coach park and Matthew 'persuaded' someone to let him on the coach to take a picture. Matthew informs me this high specification vehicle was Atlantic Travel P7 OPR.

Inside a coach at Chester Zoo

we then spied a lone Ogdens Travel coach in the car park.

Ogdens Travel coach in Chester Zoo

After the excitement of the coach park, Matthew and his group then entered into the zoo itself. One of the first thing they went to see were the monkeys.

Monkeys in Chester Zoo

Matthew didn't take many picture of the bigger animals like Giraffe or Elephants, but he did get a few picture of these deer like creatures.

Some kind of deer

Afterwards, he spotted one of them on it's own.

Another deer

Afterward they went for dinner, Matthew used the toilet and they sat and ate their packed lunches by the fountain.

The fountain by the main visitor building

After dinner Matthew went into the Amphibian house and then went in to see the bats.

Bats!

Matthew declined to go into the butterfly house. This is probably just aswell as at home he usually tries to kill moths! They then got to see a dinosaur...

Erm...T Rex!

After they had finished with the animals it was back out to the coach park. we took a picture of this P G Coaches coach as he was waiting to go home.

P G Coaches N995 UPR at Chester Zoo

Back in the minibus he took another picture of the row of coaches in the distance.

The row of coaches at Chester Zoo

The route home would have been a reverse of the route out. South through Chester and then onto the A51. They then got onto the A500 at Nantwich and headed South and then along the Tunstall by-pass. They got back in and went indoors until just before 16:00 when we arrived to pick Matthew up. Mum talked to the Aiming High workers about his trip whilst I chased him around the building. After photographic the art supplies for a craft project, using the toilet and then taking a picture of another minibus at the back of the school we returned to the car. We headed to Longton to see what was parked up at the Z Carz depot. There was only three vehicles there today. Here we see V690 EBC with D104 XAN in the background.

Z Carz V690 EBC at their Longton Depot

we also saw a onetime school bus of his, LDV minibus DS51 ZJU.

Z Carz DS51 ZJU at their Longton Depot

We then went to MacDonalds in Longton to pick up tea for mum and matthew. He also had two 'London 2012' Coca Cola glasses and 2 blue wristbands. We then went home where he ate tea and then settled down for the evening before bedtime...Mark