Trip to St Helens / Liverpool 29-04-2023

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2967	Earlestown BS	St Helens BS	34	Arriva NW&W
2939	St Helens BS	Clock Face, Fallow Close	32	Arriva NW&W
3002	Clock Face, Fallow Close	St Helens BS	17	Arriva NW&W
4599	St Helens BS	Liverpool, Queens Square	10	Arriva NW&W
4603	Liverpool, Queens Square	Fincham, Princess Drive	10A	Arriva NW&W
10814	Fincham, Princess Drive	St Helens BS	10A	Stagecoach Merseyside

Today we decided to revisited St Helens. I had checked the weather for today and it was for mainky dry weather with some showers, with there being less showers in the North. As such I asked Matthew to pick somewhere in the North West and Matthew chose St Helens. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Mum came back from work and we set off around 12:00. We got in the car and we ran along Beaconsfield Drive. We turned left onto Church Road and at the roundabout we veered left onto Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton and into Heron Cross and over the A50. At Heron Cross lights we turned left onto Grove Road. We ran forwards onto Wheildon Road and we picked up uncle Dave. Once we had picked up uncle Dave, we continued down Wheildon Road and we joined the Northbound A500. We came off at Stoke and we turned left onto Church Street. We ran around the one-way system and we turned left at Sainsbury's onto London Road. We stopped at the petrol station and we filled up with petrol. We headed back onto London Road and we ran into Stoke. We ran forwards onto Campbell Place and we turned left onto Church Street. We ran towards Hartshill and we turned right onto Shelton Old Road. We ran down the hill and we turned left onto the Northbound A500. We ran through Etruria, Longtport and Talke. As we headed up to the motorway we saw blue minibus SF10 LLT. At Borthomley we joined the Northbound M6. Travelling up the M6 we saw an unidentified Johnsons coach, Alfa 141, an unidentified BN Coaches coach and an unidentified Cannon BBT 70 seater coach. We travelled through Cheshire and over Thelwall Viaduct. At junction 21A we joined the Westbound M62. We ran up to the next junctiona dn we came off onto the Northbound A49. As we headed around the raoundabout we saw Holmeswood PO17 EKE coming off the M62. We headed North to Newton-le-Willows and we stopped at the railway station to but Saveaway tickets at £6 each. Once we got the tickets we we carried on Northwards up the A49 through the town cenmtre. We turned left onto the A572 and we headed Westwards around the North side of town. We turned sharp left onto Market Street and we headed into the town centre. We turned right onto Tamworth Street and we stopped at the free town car park. We parked up and we headed towards the town centre. On the way we saw Arriva NW&W 2691 on a #34A to St Helens.

Arriva NW&W 2691 in Earlestown bus station

We headed across to Crumpets, but as we got there they were closing up. So we walked back past the bus station to Wetherspoons. Matthew went to the toilet and mum ordered the food. When he returned to the table Matthew had a burger with a chicken burger with chips washed don with a glass of coke. When we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we headed across the the bus station. We waited for a bus to St Helens. Whilst we waited we saw Network Warrington 238 on a #22 to Vulcan village.

Network Warrington 238 in Earlestown bus station

A few minutes later the bus arrived. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 2967 on a #34A to St Helens.

Arriva NW&W 2967 in Earlestown bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Saveaway tcikets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and onto Tamworth Street. We ran out of town along Market Street and at the end we turned left onto the A572. We ran West for a few miles into Parr and we joined the A58 on the eastern edge of town. We ran into the centre of town along Corporation Street and we followed the one way system around onto Bickerstaffe Street where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2967 before it returned on a #34A to Newton-le-WIllows.

Arriva NW&W 2967 in St Helens bus station

We had a look around to see what we could catch. We saw Stagecoach Merseyside 24182 on a #10A to Liverpool.

Stagecoach Merseyside 24182 in St Helens bus station

Also seen was Arriva NW&W 2696 on a #33 to Sutton Heath.

Arriva NW&W 2696 in St Helens bus station

We walked over to the other side of the bus station to see what was on layover. We saw Arriva NW&W 4625 in between runs on the #10A to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4625 in St Helens bus station

Also seen was Stagecoach Merseyside 10547 on layover in between runs on the #10A to Liverpool.

Stagecoach Merseyside 10547 in St Helens bus station

A short time later we saw Arriva NW&W 3174 depart on a #329 to Warrington.

Arriva NW&W 3174 in St Helens bus station

We walk over to the middle stands. I assume we were going over to catch something towards Liverpool. On the way over we saw Arriva NW&W 2939 on a #32 to Clock Face and Matthew decided he wanted to do this.

Arriva NW&W 2939 in St Helens bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Saveaway tickets to the driver and we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off through the town and then across the roundabout near to KFC. We went along Peasley Cross Lane and under the railway line. We went South and we turned left onto Robins Lane. We turned right onto New Street and we went over the railway line at over the narrow bridge. We turned left onto Mill Lane and right onto Leach Lane. We turned left onto Clock Face and we turned right onto Garton Lane. We turned right onto Bodden Street and we ran forwards onto Burnage Avenue. We ran to the far end and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2939 as it returned North on the #32 towards Clinkham Wood.

Arriva NW&W 2939 in Clock Face

After getting off the bus we headed towards the shops. We visited the Morrisons Local and we brought a can of Coke and a bag of Starburst. We headed back to the bus stop and we waited for a #17 back to St Helens. Whilst we waited we went into the trip bag and we found a rather squished Milky Way duo in the bag. we had been to this stop before. It turns out that we got off here on our very first visit to St Helens back in January 2012! A short time later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 3002 on a #17 to Laffak.

Arriva NW&W 3002 in Clock Face

We got on the bus and we flashed the Saveaway tockets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Burnage Avenue and we turned right onto Four Acre Lane and we turned left onto the A569. We ran up to the roundabout and we turned right onto Mill Lane. This was a diverssionary route becasue the A569 past Sherdley Park was shut for the day. We turned left onto New Street and we ran Northwards over the railway line over the narrow bridge. We turned left onto Robins Lane and we turned right onto Marshall Cross Road and we ran past the hospital. We ran forwards onto Peasley Cross Lane and we ran past the Saints rugby stadium. We crossed the Linkway onto Pheonix Brow and we ran forwards onto Corporation Street. We crossed over the railway line and we turned left onto Hall Street and right onto Bickerstaffe Street where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we headed to the middle stands to catch something going West. Whilst we waited we saw Arriva NW&W 2904 on a #31 to Parr.

Arriva NW&W 2904 in St Helens bus station

We waited for a bus towards Liverpool. A short time later we saw Arriva NW&W 4599 on a #10 to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4599 in St Helens bus station

The bus set off out of the bus station through town passing Hatton MX59 AWC on a #12 service. We went past the new Nando's and Cinema. We joined the A58. As we went past West Park Rugby club we saw a Selwyns coach. We carried on Westward along the A58 to the edge of Prescot and we turned left onto St Helens Road. We turned right onto the A57 and we crossed over the M57. We continued a further mile or so into Page Moss. We travelled along the dual carriageway for a further mile or so and we entered the Dovecot area and we continued for another mile past Alder Hay hospital and into the bustling region of old Swan. We continued along the A57 through Stanley, Fairfield and Kensington. We crossed the A580 and we passed the hospital. We turned left onto Derdy Stree and right onto Pembroke Place. We continued onto London Road and we turned left onto the A5038. We ran past Liverpool Lime Street railway styation and we followe the road to the right. We turned left onto Hood Street and we entered the Queens Square bus station area where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4599 as it continued towards the Liverpool One bus station.

Arriva NW&W 4599 in Liverpool

Once off the bus we had a look around. Matthew had an ice cream and we took a few bus pictures. We saw Stagecoach Merseyside 10539 on a #14A service.

Stagecoach Merseyside 10539 in Liverpool

Another vehicle seen was Arriva NW&W 4836 on a #15 to Huyton.

Arriva NW&W 4836 in Liverpool

We crossed over Hood Street and we headed into Queens Square. We were looking for a pub. We walked through the square onto the A5038 and we found a pub called Doctor Duncans. Matthew went down to the basement to use the toilet and afterwards had a glass of Coke. When we had finished we came out of the pub and we walked through Queens Square to stand 2 to wait for a bus back towards St Helens. We considered doing Arriva NW&W 4715 on a #10B to Huyton, but there was a very long queue. Whilst that bus was loading we saw another bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 4603 on a #10A to St Helens.

Arriva NW&W 4603 in Liverpool

We got on the bus and we flashed the Saveaway tickets to the dricer before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus was very full and initially we all hgad to sit seperately. We set off up Hood Street and we turned right on to the A5038. We followed the road to the left and we ran past Liverpool Lime Street railway station. We turned right onto London Road and left onto Anson Street. We turned right onto the A57 and we headed out of Liverpool. We crossed the A580 and we continued into Kensington. We carried on Eastwards through Stanley and into Old Swan and the bus emptied out and we were able to sit together. As we travalled Eastwards we could see black cloads ahaed. We decided to get off at the next stop with a shelter. We came into Fincham and we got up and got off the bus. We knew there was a Stagecoach #10A behind us. We let Arriva NW&W 4802 on a #10B to Huyton. A few minutes later we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 10814 on a #10A St Helens.

Stagecoach Merseyside 10814 in Fincham

We got on the bus and we flashed the Saveaway tickets to the driver for the final time today before we went upstairs and sat down. We headed Eastwards along the A57 and we crossed over the M57 before going into Prescot along the High Street and we went straight onto the A57. We ran South Eastwards out of town past Whiston Hospital and down towards Rainhill railway station. we turned left onto Rainhall Road and we went North towards Thatto heath. We crossed the railway and we went North to the A58. At the junction we turned right and we ran into the Western end of St Helens. After running though the shopping centre of town and we passed the town hall before running in along Bickerstaffe Street and Corporation Street. We got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took a picture of Arriva NW&W 4621, on layover in between runs on the #89 to Liverpool Airport.

Arriva NW&W 4621 in St Helens bus station

We walked around the corner into Charles Street and we met up with mum. We got in the car and we set off along Charles Street. We turned right onto Parade Street and right onto Hall Street. We turned left onto Corporation Street and we crossed over the railway line. We ran forwards onto the A58 ans we turned right onto the A572. We ran to the edge of town and we turned right onto Ashtons Green Drive. We stopped at the shop and I went to the chip shop to get food. Matthew had sausage chips and gravy washed down with a can of Irn Bru. When I had finished eating we set off up Ashtons Green Drive and we rejoined the Eastbound A572. We ran around the North Side of Earlestown and we turned right onto the A49. We headed South towards Winwick and we joined the A49 link road up tp the M6. WE got on the Southbound M6 and as we travelled Southwards we passed a number of coaches in both directions. We saw an unidentified white coach, white school minibus YN63 ESO, an unidentified Holmeswood coach, Anderson WH68 LRN, white minibus RE63 UGK, 2 x unidentified Tyrers coaches. We decided to stop at Sandbach Servoce so that Matthew could go toilet. We we stopped we saw 3 coaches. We saw Aziz Coach Service MY17 AZZ.

Aziz Coach Service MY17 AZZ in Sandbach Southbound

Also seen was Plan Ahead Travel BV69 LNM.

Plan Ahead Travel BV69 LNM in Sandbach Southbound

Another coach seen was Boudens YD18 WYL.

Boudens YD18 WYL in Sandbach Southbound

After going to the toilet we got back in the car and we continued Southwards down the M6. At junction 16 we went South down the A500 through Longport and Etruria into Stoke. We came off the A500 and we diverted onto Wheildon Road. We dropped off uncle Dave and Matthew got out to use the toilet. He also had some of uncle Rob's Irn Bru. We updated uncle daves calendar to show recent activity. Once we had dropped off uncle Dave we set off onto Wheildon Road and past the former Regent pub which is now up for sale. We ran forwards onto Grove Road and we saw green minibus R482 NDM parked up. We turned right onto Blurton Road and we crossed over the A50. We continued through Blurton and we turned right onto Church Road. We turned right onto the A5035 and we got back to Blurton around 21:30. Matthew chilled out on his computer and we did some of the Blog. We also wrote a few emails and generally used the computer to entertain ourselves. We watched TV and Matthew got ready for bed. Matthew settled down around 01:00... Mark

Trip to St Helens / Prescot 09-05-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2267	St Helens BS	Ashtons Green, opp Mount Pleasant Ave,	31	Arriva NW&W
2694	Ashtons Green, opp Havannah Lane,	St Helens BS	34A	Arriva NW&W
2236	St Helens BS	Clock Face, opp Bentley Street,	17	Arriva NW&W
2249	Clock Face, adj Cannon Street,	St Helens BS	17	Arriva NW&W
4612	St Helens BS	Knowsley, adj Blenheim Drive,	10A	Arriva NW&W
4598	Longview, adj Lyme Cross Road,	St Helens BS	10A	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to re-visit St Helens. On the way we would stop at Earlestown for dinner. We had checked the weather for today and it was for cool cloudy weather throughout the North West and Midlands with the chance of an odd shower. We gave Matthew a choice of destinations and he chose St Helens. Matthew got up around 09:45 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off a little earlier today as we had to stop by a shop in Cobridge on the way. At 11:45 we turned right onto the A5035 and then right again onto Stanley Matthews Way. As we passed the Britannia Stadium we noticed a few coaches parked up ahead of todays clash with Tottenham. We joined the Westbound A50 and then onto the Northbound A500. As we travelled North we passed Glovers Mercedes minibus AIG 1346. We came off the A500 at Longport and we headed to Burslem. We turned right in the town centre and we headed up to Cobridge. We weren't able to do what we needed so we carried on towards Earlestown. We turned right onto the A53 and we went West to the A500. We went North and we joined the M6. As we went North on the M6 we passed a South Lancs Travel Solo being towed Southwards. When we got to the A49 we went west to Winwick and then North to Newton. We turned left and went West a couple of mile before turning left by a petrol station and heading into Earlestown. We parked in the car park adjacent to the bus station and we walked to Crumpets cafe for dinner. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a bottle of Coke. After we had finished eating we went to the toilet bloack just across from the cafe. After Matthew had used the facilities, on the way back to the car Matthew photographed Network Warrington 67 on the #22 Warrington to Vulcan service.

Network Warrington 67 in Earlestown

As we walked past the bus station we saw Arriva NW&W 2706 on a #34A to Acorn Street.

Arriva NW&W 2706 in Earlestown bus station

We got back into the car and we carried on towards St Helens, along the A572. We entered town from the East along Corporation Street. we turned by the Transport museum and we parked in a space in front of the theatre. We walked to the Merseytravel office on Bickerstaffe Street. On the way we saw Hatton's Travel Y538 XAG on the #140 to Bold.

Hatton's Travel Y538 XAG in St Helens bus station

We purchased a couple of Saveaway tickets at £5.10 each. We then went around the bus station to see what we might catch. We had just missed one of the new double deckers that was waiting at the lights to join Bickerstaffe Street. It was required Arriva NW&W 4597 on a #10A to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4597 in St Helens bus station

On one of the top stands was required Dart Arriva NW&W 2259.

Arriva NW&W 2259 in St Helens bus station

We also saw Arriva NW&W 2970 on a #352 to Wigan via Orrell.

Arriva NW&W 2970 in St Helens bus station

We had a look at the buses on Layover on Corporation Street. Hatton's Travel P655 HEG appeared to be being used as the Hatton's Travel drivers mess.

Hatton's Travel P655 HEG in St Helens bus station

Also on layover was Arriva NW&W 4599.

Arriva NW&W 4599 in St Helens bus station

We also saw Arriva NW&W Solo SR 725 on a #33 to Sutton manor pass through Corporation Street.

Arriva NW&W 725 in St Helens bus station

Also on layover on Corporation Street was Cumfybus Solo MX55 WDD.

Cumfybus MX55 WDD in St Helens bus station

On the far end of the row of buses on layover was Arriva NW&W 4616.

Arriva NW&W 4616 in St Helens bus station

We saw an ALX200 Dart come into Bickerstaffe Street and then disappear of down the street. It was required Arriva NW&W 2267. It wheeled around onto Corporation Street and went onto stand 1. It was about to work a #31 to Parr.

Arriva NW&W 2267 in St Helens bus station

We decided to do this bus ao we walked over to the stand and got on the bus. We flashed our Saverway tickets to the driver and we sat down near to the back of the bus. Before the bus set off we looked at the St Helens area public transport map and guide that we picked up from the Travelshop. The #31 route passes close to the #34/34A where the bus turned from Mount Pleasant Avenue onto Waring Avenue. We only had a short walk along Waring avenue onto the A572. The bus set off out of town along Corporation street past the railway station and onto the A58. Further east we joined the A572 which we did down to Parr. We turned onto Fleet Lane for the final part of the run and we passed required Arriva NW&W 2259 on the #31. The bus started to empty out and we turned left onto Derbyshire Hill Road. The bus emptied out a little and Matthew took a picture of the empty seats across from us.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2267

The bus turned right onto Mount Pleasant Avenue and we turned right again onto Waring Avenue. We got up and got off the bus, We then took a picture of Arriva NW&W 2267 as it carried on back to St Helens.

Arriva NW&W 2267 in Ashtons Green

We walked up Waring Avenue onto the A572. As we walked towards the stop we saw a St Helens bound Dart approaching. I tried to flag the bus down as we ran towards the stop but it carried straight on! It was dud Arriva NW&W 2262. As we had missed the bus we had 10 minutes to wait for the next one. Matthew had a Milky Way and a can of Fanta as he had a bus stop picnic. The following bus turned up and we could see it was a Pulsar I. As it got closer we saw it was required Arriva NW&W 2694,

Arriva NW&W 2694 in Ashtons Green

We got onto the bus and we flashed the Saverway tickets to the driver before sitting down near to the back of the bus. The bus returned to town along the A572 and onto the A58. When we got back to the bus station we waited for the bus to empty and Matthew got a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2694.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2694

When we got off the bus Matthew went to the toilet and we considered our next move... On the way to the toilet we saw required Dart Arriva NW&W 2237 on the #36 to Chain Lane.

Arriva NW&W 2237 in St Helens bus station

On a #34 was dud Arriva NW&W 2211.

Arriva NW&W 2211 in St Helens bus station

Whilst Matthew was in the toilet we missed a double decker on the #10 service. We went to the shop and Matthew got a can of Coke and a can of Tizer and a double Milky Way to stock up the trip bag again. We spotted a Dart going around Corporation Street and back into Bickerstaffe Street. It was required Arriva NW&W 2236 on the #17 to Widnes.

Arriva NW&W 2236 in St Helens bus station

We decided to do this bus. We flashed the Saverway tickets to the driver and we sat down near to the back of the bus. A quick look at the map and we saw that Widnes was outside the area of the ticket, so we would have to get off somewhere inside the Merseyside boundry. The bus set off along Bickerstaffe Street and then we turned left to run through town. We headed out of town down Peasley Cross Lane and passed St Helens rugby club stadium, Langtree Park. We continued South passed Sutton Park and over the Manchester to Liverpool railway at Lea Green. We wound our way through the housing estate at Clock Face and we decided to get off on Gartons Lane when we could see 'The Dream', a giant concrete monument on the site of an old colliery. As we turned the corner into Gartons Lane the bus wasn't emptying out so Matthew took a picture of the empty seats opposite to us.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2236

We travelled along the lane for a 1/4 of a mile or so and we go up and got off the bus. When we got off Matthew took another picture of the classic Dennis Dart, Arriva NW&W 2236.

Arriva NW&W 2236 in Clock Face

We crossed the road and we walked a couple of hundred yards to the only stop we could see on the opposite side of the road. We could have gone another stop further, like we did when we caught Dart Arriva NW&W 7570 back to St Helens on the #33A back in July 2012. We only had to wait a few minutes and then required Arriva NW&W 2249 appeared on a #17 service back to St Helens.

Arriva NW&W 2249 in Clock Face

We got on the bus and we flashed the Saverway tickets to the driver before we sat down near to the back of the bus. The bus returned back through the Clockface estate and we headed North over the railway line and back into town. When we got back Matthew got another picture of Arriva NW&W 2249.

Arriva NW&W 2249 in St Helens bus station

When we got back we decided we were going to do a quick out and back on a couple of the new double deckers. Whilst we waited we took a few pictures. The first thing we saw was HTL Buses KX09 CHZ on the A10 town circular.

HTL Buses KX09 CHZ in St Helens bus station

We saw a double decker pull up onto stand Stand 8 so we legged it up there. It isn't eay to take pictures of buses inside the bus station area so Matthew took a picture of required Arriva NW&W 4612 through the glass.

Arriva NW&W 4612 in St Helens bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Saverway tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. The top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 4612.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4612

The plan was to go to Prescot and to get off and explore this town, and maybe take a few pictures of buses. The bus station appeared to be to the South of the A57, with the #10/10A passing by on the main road. If we crossed over the M57 then we had gone too far. The bus set off out of town along the A58 before we turned off the main road to head towards Thatto Heath. We continued South through Nutgrove and over the railway line at Rainhill. Here we joined the A57 for the run towards Prescot. We passed Whiston hospital and we went around the town to the north like a by-pass. We carried on going as we didn't see the bus station. When we got to the M57 crossing we knew that we had gone too far! We decided to cross the motorway and then get off the bus at the nearest convenient point. We came to a wide dual carriageway and we spotted bus stops on both sides of the road so we got up and got off. We crossed the road at the crossing and we could see what looked like a broken down bus on the St Helens bound side of the road just beyond the stop. As we got to the stop we saw required Stagecoach Merseyside 27715 on a #10A to St Helens.

Stagecoach Merseyside 27715 in Prescot

A closer look at the broken down bus revealed it was HTL Buses BX12 DZG on the #897 to kirby Admin.

HTL Buses BX12 DZG in Prescot

As we were looking at the bus one of their Solos appeared to rescue the stricken passenger on the bus, HTL Buses YJ12 GZH.

HTL Buses YJ12 GZH in Prescot

It looks as if Mercedes minibuses are the usual puck for this turn, so the #897 may be a bus to after sometime in the near future. With the #10 every 15 minutes and the #10A every 6 or so minutes, there appeared to be a a bit of an unscheduled gap in the service. We saw a #89 go sailing by which must have been diverted as it isn't meant to travel along the A57. Eventually the bus turned up... It was a #10A and it was required double decker Arriva NW&W 4598.

Arriva NW&W 4598 in Prescot

We got on the bus and we flashed the Saverway tickets to the driver for the last time today before we went upstairs. There were a few people on the top deck spaced out around us. The bus went around precot on the A57 and back past the hospital to Rainhill. We turned left to go through Nutgrove and as we rounded a corner we came to a stop. There was a car sideways across the road with the air bag deployed. It appeared to have hit a lamppost at speed as the lamp post had moved in the ground and was now at a slight angle. I was just about to text mum to say that we would be delayed when we saw the car get pushed to the side of the road and we were able to get past it. We carried on North through Thatto Heath and we joined onto the A58 for the run into St Helens. When we got back into Corporation Street the bus unloaded and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 4598.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4598

Mum spotted us and she crossed the road to meet us. matthew wanted to take a few more pictures before we returned home. On a #37 to Eccleston was Arriva Cadet NW&W 2421.

Arriva NW&W 2421 in St Helens bus station

He also took another picture of our ride into town from out on the A57, Arriva NW&W 4598.

Arriva NW&W 4598 in St Helens bus station

One of Stagecoach's #10A buses, Stagecoach Merseyside 27716 was also on layover.

Stagecoach Merseyside 27716 in St Helens bus station

Matthew wanted to say hello to someone on a bus so we went straight on and off. Afterwards, Matthew went to the tardis style toilet again, which was working for a change today! We waked to the car which mum had moved on to Parade Street one block back from the bus station. When we got to the car Matthew tucked into his Greggs sausage roll and drank a small bottle of Irn Bru. We set off out of town along corporation Street and the A58 before turning onto the A572. we went back almost exactly the same way as we came (without the diversion into Earlestown) along the A572 and South down the A49. At Winwick we got on the M6 link road and we joined onto the M6 at junction 22. We headed South and the motorway was clear. We got back to junction 16 quite quickly. We headed south on the A500 and we came off at Longport to go back to Cobridge again. We headed up through Trubshaw Cross to Burslem and we turned right and went towards Cobridge. This time mum was able to pick up her item from the shop so we carried on towards Hanley. we went around town and onto Lichfield Street. At joiners Square we went straight across and onto Victoria Road. At the top of victoria Road we joined the A50 link road and we got on the A50 as far as Longton, where we came off the see what was parked up at z Carz tonight. On the spare ground there were three buses. First in the row was Ford minibus Z Carz BN03 OVS.

Z Carz BN03 OVS in Longton

Next the that was another Ford minibus, Z Carz LG09 JVX.

Z Carz LG09 JVX in Longton

Finally, we saw former Phil Smiths Travel Mercedes minibus, Z Carz M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

We turned into Willow Row to see what buses were in the compund. We saw Z Carz Mercedes minibus S952 VMY & Renault minibus Y568 XFV.

Z Carz Y568 XFV in Longton

We headed back onto the A50 and we came off the A50 and we turned towards Blurton. At the Lightning house we saw Mercedes minibus T2 DLT, It was the first time we had seen this bus for a few weeks. We carried on down the road and we stopped briefly at the shop before carring on homewards along Blurton Road and the Church Road. We turned into Beaconsfield Drive and at the bottom we saw First Potteries 66839 on the final Longton bound #22 of the day. We got home just after 19:00. for a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with a few slices of carrots followed by a few mini doughnuts. Matthew then chilled out on his coputer until bedtime around 00:45... Mark