Trip to Hanley / Leek 12-10-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
41500	Hanley BS	Leek BS	18	First Potteries
N880 AVV	Leek BS	Haregate	165	Clowes Coaches
N880 AVV	Haregate	Leek BS	165	Clowes Coaches
P403 MLA	Leek BS	Ashbourne BS	108	Aimée's

Today Matthew was in respite and was going to cover the Clowes Coaches 165 service. Matthew got up at around 09:30 today. He had breakfast of oatcakes and bacon and cheese and orange juice. we drove up to Hanley today. The route they took was along Dividy Road onto the A52. From there they went up into hanley via Bucknall New Road. we then went around Hanley and parked in the Tesco car park. we then walked over to the museum were we saw a few buses. 61145 was on a #7A service.

First Potteries 61145 in Hanley

Outside the museum we saw Wardle Transport 4813 on a #19 to Bradeley.

Wardle Transport 4813 in Hanley

First Potteries 40155 was on a #18 to Leek.

First Potteries 40155 in Hanley

we then went to the museum for a quick visit.

Hanley Museum

We used the disabled toilet, and after leaving the museum They went up to the bus station where we saw dud first Potteries 41500 on the #18 to Leek so we decided to do it from Birches Head to Hanley in the snow back in January 2013. We got on the bus and sat down. The bus left the bus station and went around town and then towards Towsend. The bus turned in Birches head and went down Milton Road and hen onto the A53. Th bus then carried on all the way up into Leek and then into the bus station. Whilst at thee bus station Matthew used the toilet and then we saw Clowes Coaches N880 AVV on the town circular service. we got on the bus and sat down. The bus left town on the A523 towards Ashbourne before turning into the Haregate estate. The bus returned through the town and then appeared on the A53 just outside of town. The bus turned at Morrison and then went up to Compton and into the bus station. We then walked to the Cafe for a late dinner. for dinner we had an English breakfast and a lemon meringue pie for afters. We then saw Aimmee's new arrival P403 MLA on the 108 so we decided to do it. We got on an sat down. Te bus left town on the A523 and out through Bottomhouse, after a couple of small diversions onto housing estates the bus got back on the A523 and continued on to Ashbourne. Here we were picked up and taken back to the respite place. We headed down the A515 until it met the A50, which we did back to Longton today. We went back to Bentilee past the Gladstone pottery Museum and up Anchor Road. He then had tea which was fish fingers and chips with beans followed by cake and custard. He then had a bath and chilled out in his room on his computer before bedtime at 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

Trp to Leek / Macclesfield 04-04-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
53209	Ladybank Grove (adj), Blurton	Hanley BS	23	First Potteries
3611	Hanley BS	Leek BS	118	Wardle Transport
L809 CJF	Leek BS	Haregate	165	Clowes Coaches
L809 CJF	Haregate	Leek BS	165	Clowes Coaches
N880 AVV	Leek BS	Macclesfield BS	108	Clowes Coaches
227	Macclesfield BS	Biddulph BS	99	Bakerbus

Today we decided to go up to Leek. We decided this after our visit on Tuesday. The only research done was to check which Clowes Coaches services ran on a Thursday. Matthew got up around 09:30 and had toast for breakfast. Mum cooked his some fries and chicken popcorn for dinner and got him ready to go for when I returned hoe from work around 12:40. After a very quick toilet stop we walked around to the stop to see if the #22A had dropped a double decker today. It was ex Chester Dart first Potteries 40136 so we let it go as it wasn't really going in the right direction. A few minutes later we saw First Potteries 53209 on a #23 to Hanley.

First Potteries 53209 in Blurton

We got on the bus and we booked to Hanley before sitting down on the bus. The bus set off along Beaconsfield Drive and at the end we turned left onto Church Road. At Critchlow's corner we went onto Blurton Road and through Heron Cross and onto Heron Street. We turned left onto Christchurch Street and then left again onto City Road. We dropped down the hill into Stoke town center and we followed the one way system onto Glebe Street before turning left onto Station Road. We went up College and followed it around onto Regent Road before and we passed First Potteries 34158 on a #32A to Uttoxeter. When the bus got into hanley bus station we let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 53209.

Inside First Potteries 53209

As we got off the bus we saw required First Potteries 40378 reversing out of the bus station on a #18 to Leek.

First Potteries 40378 in Hanley bus station

We went for a quick walk around the bus station and we spotted Wardle Transport 1495 outside on a driver shuttle. We went over to have a look and Matthew indicated that he wanted to have a look inside. The lady driver who was waiting with the bus let Matthew on to have a look inside...

Inside Wardle Transport 1495

After Matthew had taken a picture we walked back towards the bus station and he took an external picture of Wardle Transport 1495.

Wardle Transport 1495 outside Hanley bus station

We had a walk up to where the buses were on layover and we saw Wardle Transport 3611 parked up there.

Wardle Transport 3611 in Hanley bus station

We went to wait for the next #18 and we saw dud First Potteries 40155 coming into the bus station

First Potteries 40155 in Hanley bus station

At the same time Wardle Transport 3611 came off layover to work a #118 to Buxton. We decided to do the Wardle Transport bus we got on the bus and we booked to Leek. We sat down towards the back of the bus. as the rear of the bus was empty Matthew took a picture of the empty back seat in Wardle Transport 3611.

Inside Wardle Transport 3611

We headed out of the bus station and onto the ring road before going down Limekiln Bank. At the bottom of the hill we turned left. We went through Abbey Hilton & Milton and we joined the A53 at Stockton Brook. In Endon we stopped outside the Plough and we saw a blue Leyland coach parked in the car park. It was preserved B22 XKX.

B22 XKX in Endon

We carried on Northwards through Longnor and we dropped down the step hill to Barnfield before climbing up past Morrison into Leek town centre. We turned right and we went into the bus station where we got off. Matthew got another picture of Wardle Transport 3611.

Wardle Transport 3611 in Leek bus station

We visted the toilet and then we took a few pictures before we decided what to catch next. We saw Bakerbus 180 on the #423 to Biddulph.

Bakerbus 180 in Leek bus station

We also saw Clowes Coaches L814 DJU on the Blackshaw Moor service, but there wasn't a bus back so we decided not to do it.

Clowes Coaches L814 DJU in Leek bus station

A few minutes later we saw dud D&G 28 on the Sainsbury's Free Bus service.

D&G 28 in Leek bus station

Parked up in the bus station was Ashbourne Community Transport DK10 DXX.

Asbourne CT DK10 DXX in Leek bus station

A few minutes later the town circular service appeared, work by Clowes Coaches L809 CJF. We got on the bus and we booked to Haregate. The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Clowes Coaches L809 CJF.

Inside Clowes Coaches L809 CJF

We sat down near to the back of the bus and we set off out of the bus station and onto the A523. We turned left and we crossed the A53 and went onto the Haregate estate. When we got there I got up and booked another ticket to go straight back to Leek. We traveled back through the town and we went up towards Westwood before joining the A53 we cut through the backstreets and joined the A520 and then we came into town and we came into the bus station. We got off the bus and Matthew took a picture of Clowes Coaches L809 CJF.

Clowes Coaches L809 CJF in Leek bus station

Whilst we decided what to do next we took a few more pictures. First we saw required First Potteries 40367 on a #18 to Haregate.

First Potteries 40367 in Leek bus station

Matthew visited the toilet and then we went to the newsagent and brought some pop and chocolate and a rice crispies squares bar. We then saw required Wardle Transport 2532 on #493 to Brown Edge.

Wardle Transport 2532 in Leek bus station

A few minutes later we saw Wardle Transport 2543 on the #16 to Hanley.

Wardle Transport 2543 in Leek bus station

We then saw dud Clowes Coaches N880 AVV on the #108 to Macclesfied.

Clowes Coaches N880 AVV in Leek bus station

We decided to do this bus and we got on the bus and booked to Macclesfield before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and we went through the town centre before going down the hill towards Sainsbury's along the A523. We the climbed up the hill past Rudyard Lake and through Rushton Spencer. We crossed the A54 at Bosley and we carried on into town. We passed the railway station before going back into town and into the bus station. Once we got off the bus Matthew didn't want to do the Clowes Coaches bus back towards Leek. I wasn't sure how we were going to get home at this point. I though we were going to have to call mum to pick us up from Congleton after catching the #38 towards Crewe. We walked out of the bus station and we went into town to the public toilets. we also visited a newsagent on the way back. Once we go back to the bus station Matthew took a couple of [pictures. We saw Arriva NW&W Solo 701 on the #21A service to Astra Zeneca.

Arriva NW&W 701 in Macclesfield bus station

we also saw 'Not In Service' High Peak Solo 377 on layover at the bus station.

High Peak 377 in Macclesfield bus station

We went to the top stand to wait for the Crewe bus. Then an unexpected thing happened... We saw Bakerbus's required step entranced Volvo B6 227 on the #99 to Biddulph!

Bakerbus 227 in Macclesfield bus station

This was perfect... It was going closer to home than Congleton, plus mum knew how to get to Biddulph without the aid of a Sat Nav! We got on the bus and we booked to Biddulph. The bus was nearly empty so Matthew took a picture inside Bakerbus 227 before we sat down.

Inside Bakerbus 227

The bus set off out of the bus station and we went South. I think the route back to Congleton was Southwards down the A523 to Bosley and then left towards Congleton along the A54. At Buglaton we passed though the housing estate and we passed required Bakerbus Volvo B10 164 on the Northbound #99 Service. We called into Congleton Fariground bus station and then we went along the A527 past the railway station and down to Biddulph. At the bus station we got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Bakerbus 227.

Bakerbus 227 in Biddulph bus station

We sat down for a while whilst we waited for mum to come and get us. Whilst we waited we saw Bakerbus 207 on a #94A to Newcastle. Mum turned up so we walked over to the car park to meet her. we drove down to the A527 and we went through Brindley Ford and Chell and then we skirted the Northern end of Tunstall on the by-pass and down the hill onto the A500. We went South towards Sideway an we joined the eastbound A50 up to Stanley Matthews Way. We joined the A5035 and we got home around 18:00. For tea we had sausage Chips and gravy followed by cake and custard. Matthew then chilled out on his computer and we watched some television until bedtime around 23;30... Mark

Trip to Newcastle / Leek 02-04-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
34311	Ladybank Grove (opp), Blurton	Newcastle BS	22	First Potteries
2300	Newcastle BS	Hanley BS	41	Wardle Transport
2542	Hanley BS	Leek BS	16	Wardle Transport

Today we hadn't planned on going out, but 34311 working the #22A was the reason we did. Matthew got up at 08:45 and had some toast. He went out with mum to Longton for the morning where he ate a bananas and some chocolate biscuits he came back to Blurton passing Z carz NX03 JYJ and V690 EBC in Longton. Tey went along the A50 and then onto Longton Hall Road. For dinner had an English breakfast and a butterfly cake. I finished work at 12:30 and drove back intending to see the #22A on my way. I pulled over on Blurton Road to wait for the #47 and checked my e-mails to find out someone had already seen 34311 out on the #22A. So I drove home and called mum to tell her that there was a bus out and to bring Matthew home before 13:15. Matthew ot home around 13:00 and we got ready and left home around 13:10. We trotted to the bus stop and it's lucky that we did as 34311 was at the stop and was about to pull off. We flagged it down and Matthew took a picture before we got on it.

First Potteries 34311 in Blurton

We got on the bus and it was empty so Matthew took a picture of the empty lower deck.

Inside First Potteries 34311

We went upstairs and sat down. This was the second time Matthew had done this bus, the previous time being back n February. We sat down to enjoy the journey. We stopped at the Man in Space for a couple of minutes to wait for time and and then carried on. As we travelled along we passed 40143 on the Longton bound #22 service. We got to Newcastle and we got off. The bus finished it's turn and it didn't hang around. Matthew got another picture of 34311 as it left for the depot.

First Potteries 34311 in Newcastle

On stand at the bottom of the bus station was Wardle Trasport 2300. I asked mattew if he wanted to do it and he said yes. We got on it was empty at the time so Matthew got his empty bus picture straight away.

Inside Wardle Transport 2300

We sat down and the bus filled a little. As we passed through the hospital we passed another #22 and it was Solo 40015. We got to the Hanley and we entered the new bus station for the first time. We got off and Matthew got a picture of 2300.

Wardle Transport 2300 in Hanley bus station

When we got there we spotted required Wardle Transport 4896 on the 14:15 X50 to Uttoxeter. Matthew went to the toilet and when he came out 4896 had gone. So I formulated plan to get it in. In the mean time we went to take a few pictures of buses. Pictures in the bus station itself are hard to get (I'm not sure if they are strictly allowed), so we went of site to take a few pictures. We went to John Street multi-storey car park and took pictures off the first floor. Whist we were there we saw wardle transport 4546 on the #61, a bus that we had on the Hanley bus station finale running day.

Wardle Transport 4546 leaves Hanley bus station

After spending around 30 minutes taking pictures we went back to the bus station and had a drink at the cafe. he then went to the toilet again and then we had around 10 minutes to wait for the X50 to go after 4896. Outside the bus station we saw Wardle Transport 1485 and Matthew got a picture.

Wardle Transport 1485 outside Hanley bus station

Just as the X50 arrived Matthew decided he was going to do something different and jumped on Wardle Transport 2542 on the #16. Matthew last had this bus as D&G 5 back in May 2011. It was a Solo and so he honked the horn as he got on. Mum texted to see where we were and having told her we were doing 4776 to Meir, I had to tell her we were now going to Leek. Mum said she was going to drive up there but she wasn't going to get there before we did. We passed Wardle Transport 2301 on the inbound #16. When we got to Leek Matthew got a picture of the empty inside of 2542.

Inside Wardle Transport 2542

We got off and Matthew went to the toilet. As the bus was still there when he came out he got a picture of the outside too.

Wardle Transport 2542 in Leek bus station

We had a short wait for mum to arrive and whilst we were there we saw 40167 heading to Hanley and then 40383 going to Haregate. A few minutes later 40030 made an appearance.

First Potteries 40030 in Leek bus station

Mum arrived and we walked back to the car. As we got in the car we saw Clowes Coaches N880 AVV on the #108 to Macclesfield. We then headed back to Captain Kooks n Burslem. We went down the A53 and then onto Sandbach Road. He had chips beans and sausage and then cheesecake and custard for afters. We went to the car wash in Burslem and then to Smallthorne to pick up some books. We headed back along High Lane and into Hanley. At the junction Potteries Way and Bucknall New Road we wanted to go straight on, but we found out te road markings had change so we had to go down Limekiln bank! We went to Joiners square and then stopped at ASDA on Victoria Road so mum could pick something up. We the stopped at MacDonald so we could pick up Matthews chicken nugget meal. We then carried on up Victoria Road and along the link road to Heron Cross past the end of Duke Street. We got home around 18:30 and we looked at our pictures from today and wrote the Blog. We chilled out on the computer up to bedtime...Mark

Trip to Leek / Cheadle 16-01-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
1450	Bentilee	Bucknall Newhouse Road	Charter	Wardle Transport
28	Sainsbury's	Leek BS	Town Service	D&G
N880 AVV	Leek BS	Bridge End, adj Kiln Lane (Unmarked)	108	Clowes Coaches
28	Sainsbury's	Leek BS	Town Service	D&G
T459 JRH	Leek BS	High Street, Cheadle	234	Clowes Coaches
T459 JRH	High street, Cheadle	Leek BS	234	Clowes Coaches
M127 YCM	Leek BS	Leek BS	165	Clowes Coaches
1450	Bucknall Newhouse Road	Bentille	Charter	Wardle Transport

Today Matthew was going to Leek from college. we got up around 07:00 and had some breakfast before his college transport arrived. It was Wardle Transport 1450.

Wardle Transport 1450 in Bentilee

we got on did this down Dividy Road and onto the A52 before turning in Newhouse Road and to college. They then went to Leek by car to visit the new Sainbury's store in Leek. The route up was to Bucknall on the A52 before travelling through Abbey Hulton and Milton to the A53. They then did this straight into Leek and into the new store. Whilst there we visited the cafe for dinner. Afterwards they went around the shop. They came out and we saw D&G 28 we got on the free town shuttle bus. we set off So he did this we got off to Leek bus station. Whilst there we saw Clowes Coaches N880 AVV. we got on As N880 AVV was on a #108 to macclesfield we set off did this bus back to Sainsbury's instead we got off the shuttle. He did the shuttle a second time back to the bus station before we spotting Clowes coaches T459 JRH we got on the #234 to Cheadle. we set off to Cheadle and then straight back again we got off. The next bus we was Clowes Coaches M127 YCM we got on the #165 town service so we set off decided to do a lap of town on this bus we got off. we also saw Clowes Coaches N466 VOD. before being picked up. They then travelled back to college. hey went down the A53 to stockton brook and the headed towards Milton. They carried on to Limekiln Bank and then did the A52 to Bucknall and then to college. around 15:00 Matthew went back to respite we got on Wardle Transport 1450. The route back was down to the A52 and then onto Dividy Road. Back at respite we got off, we had sausage and mash for tea followed by cake and custards for afters. we then chilled out in the lounge before have a bath. He had toast or supper before bedtime...Mark

Trip to Cheadle 26-08-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
N748 OYR	Longto Transport Interchange	Cheadle Town Centre, adj Charles Street	7A	Wardle Transport
65034	Cheadle Town Centre, adj Charles Street	Werrington PO(opp)	32	First Potteries

Today we decided to go to Cheadle again after I returned from work. We got to Longton around 16:00 and we had around 20 minutes to wait for the Cheadle bus. Whilst we were waiting Matthew took a couple of picture including on of 40179.


40179 in Longton transport Interchange (Matt)

After a short wait i could seen what looked like a Nothern Counties bodied Dart on the Strand so we started walking towards the correct stand. When it appeared I was indeed as described, N748 OYR still not carrying Wardle Transport fleet numbers.


Wardle Transport N748 OYR (still no fleet number) in Longton Transport Interchange (Matt)

We got on the bus and then waited until time before departing along Uttoxeter Road. The journey was uneventful, although the driver was surprised to pick someone in in Cresswell for the first time ever. We got off in cheadle at the same stop as week. Matthew got a shot as it departed.


That bus leaving Cheadle (Matt)

As we waited for a 32/32A, Matthew saw one of his old favourites. It was Clowes coaches M127 YCM which is a regular on the 234/236 service one which Matthew has ridden on many times!


Clowes Coaches M127 YCM heading towards Tean (Matt)

A short while later required 65034 appeared on a #32 Hanley. We got of at Werrington and waited for mum.


65034 in Werrington (Matt)

Whilst wait we saw Alton Towers Transport Volvo B10 M574 YEW on a #15 service.


M574 YEW in Werrington on the ATT #15 service (Matt)

When mum turned up we went to a local chip shop and picked up some chips for Matthew. We then went home via Uncle Daves house...Mark