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 Wigan 09-03-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJY	Packmoor	YMCA Hanley	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJY	YMCA Hanley	Packmoor	Charter	Aiming High
16959	Wigan BS	Hindley Green, Atherton Road/Hindley Green (Stop B)	32	Stagecoach Manchester
22144	Hindley Green, Atherton Road/Hindley Green (Stop A)	Wigan BS	598	Stagecoach Manchester
2626	Wigan BS	Standish, o/s House 104 Wigan Road/Almond Crescent	362	Arriva NW&W
2995	Standish, Wigan Road/Ashfield Park Drive (SE-bound)	Wigan BS	362	Arriva NW&W
16956	Wigan BS	Hindley Green, o/s House 573 Atherton Road/Long Lane	32	Stagecoach Manchester
22361	Hindley Green, Atherton Road/Lincroft Road (W-bound)	Wigan BS	598	Stagecoach Manchester

Today we had decided to go to Wigan. Research for Wigan was not don other than to check the weather. It was going to be cold with light rain, 3'. There was also the small matter of Matthew going to do some archery first. Matthew got up around 08:30 today and had toast for breakfast. He had a shave and then we jumped into the car. We set off past the hem Heath pub and down Stanley Matthews Way. We got onto the west bound A50 and then headed north along the A500. North of Longport we got on the A527 Tunstall Bypass and we did this through to Packmoor, before turning left and driving to Middlehurst school. We said goodbye and Matthew ran off down to the computer room for a few minutes before they set off. Today they went to the YMCA in Aiming High FJ10 BJY.

Aiming High FJ10 BJY in Middlehurst

They set off to High Lane and Chell then we saw First PMT 40030 on a #8 service. they headed to Hanley and then drove around Hanley and then turned into the YMCA. They went upstairs and Matthew did some climbing and archery before returning to the bus. They then headed to the edge and drove around the ring road and onto High Lane. They then went straight up to Burslem. we saw 40140 on a #20 service. They headed up to Tunstall and then to Packmoor. When they got back we arrived a minute later to pick him up. They car was running a little hot so we decided to add a bit of water to the coolant to make sure it didn't overheat on the journey up. We then set off to Turnhurst and back down the A527 to the A500. We turned north heading through the roadworks up to the M6. The traffic was light today and we made good progress. We got to the A49 by around 13:30 and we parked up in wigan around 13:45. We walked through the bus station to The Courtyard Cafe. Matthew had a small breakfast and then fudgecake and custard for afters. We got out of the cafe around 1420 and we saw Arriva NW&W hybrid 4499 about to depart on a #715 service. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do it and he said yes. He took a picture of the bus and it pulled off before we could get round to it!

Arrva NW&W 4499 in Wigan bus station

Behind 4499 on stand was Stagecoach Manchester 16959 about to work a #32 to Manchester. We decided to do this. Matthew got a picture and then we went to get on it.

Stagecoach Manchester 16959 in Wigan bus station

We booked our system one bus tickets and then sat upstairs. It was empty so Matthew got his empty bus picture straight away.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 16959

We didn't know the exact route so we downloaded the table from the TfGM site and looked at the route on the Wigan South map. We decded that Athehton was too far for today, but Hindley Green would give us a choice of bus back. We set off Eastward to Hindley and then through the housing estates to Hindley Green. We got off and before we could cross the road we saw 19517 heading back to Wigan on a #32. So we crossed the road to wait for a #598. We only had to wait 10 minutes and then required Stagecoach Manchester 22144 made an appearance from around the corner. We got on and sat down near the back. Th journey takes a little longer on the #598 as it heads further over toward Ince before retuning North to Wigan. When we reached the bus station he waited for the bus to empty and then got his empty bus picture.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 22144

We then had a little time to take a few pictures. We saw Arriva NW&W 721 on a #360 to Warrington and then 2269 arrived from golborne on a #360 short.

Arriva NW&W 2269 in Wigan bus station

I asked Matthew if he wanted to do 2269, but surprisingly he turned it down. We then saw cadet 2626 arrive on a #362 to Chorley and he said yes to that. We got on the bus and booked to Standish. We set off and headed North out of town past the hospital and then just outside of the town we got off. Matthew then got a picture of this bus.

Arriva NW&W 2626 in Standish

We then crossed the road to wait for a return service. There was a #113 due until 34 past so were waiting for the next #362. Stagecoach Manchester 47336 went North on a #113 and then a few minutes later, required Arriva NW&W Pulsar II 2995 made an appearance.

Arriva NW&W 2995 in Standish

The journey back was swift and I was expecting Matthew to get his empty bus picture. He spotted a young lady on the #32 stand waiting for Stagecoach Manchester 16956 to be readied for service so he went over to say hello to her. he then went to the toilet, and wen he was done 16956 still hadn't finished loading so he decided he wanted to do this. We got and after he said hello to his friend again we went upstairs. We decided to get off a couple of stops earlier than before so we might get a #32 back. Unfortunately we passed the #32 just before we got off.

Stagecoach Manchester 16956 in Hindley Green

We got off and called into a garage for soe chocolate and a can of Coke. We then crossed the road to wait for a #598. Whilst we were there we saw South Lancs Travel 3 on a #641 service. We didn't ave to wait too long before we saw a another Stagecoach Manchester ALX300 approaching. It got closer and we saw it was required 22361.

Stagecoach Manchester 22361 in Hindley Green

We got back into the bus station around 17:20 and then we walked passed the buses on Hallgate and Dorning Street. We got back to the car and had sausage rolls and pop. Back at the car we drove out of town and onto the A49 at Wigan Pier. We circled the Pier and then headed South down the A49 and onto the M6. We came off at junction 16 and down the A500 to Sideway. We then got on the A50 to Longton. At Longton we went past the Z Carz depot. Today it was all smaller vehicles. First on the row was his former college bus LDV minibus M420 UEH.

Z Carz M420 UEH in Longton

Next was Iveco minibus HX51 HRU.

Z Carz HX51 HRU in Longton

We then saw Mercedes minibus CE02 LYX and then Renault minibus.

Z Carz CE02 LYX & YE52 UZX in Longton

Last on the row was Renault BU04 GYW.

Z Carz BU04 GYW in Longton

We turned into willow row and were surprised to see the Ex Lightning Travel/Z Carz orange bus FD53 UNX, so we turned in the road so he could get a picture of it.

Z Carz FD53 UNX in Longton

We then headed down Longton Hall Road and into Blurton. We got home around 18:45. For a let tea tonight Matthew had bangers and mash and he also had a small angel cake slice too. He the chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:30...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 Gladstone pottery / Westport Lake 11-08-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJY	Middleshurst, Packmoor	Gladstone Pottery Museum	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJY	Gladstone Pottery Museum	Middleshurst, Packmoor	Charter	Aiming High
N295 DWE	Middleshurst, Packmoor	Westport Lake	Charter	Bennetts
N295 DWE	Westport Lake	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Charter	Bennetts

Today Matthew was going on a short trip with Aiming high. We asked him if he wanted to go for a walk afterwards to which he said yes. So we planned to go to westport Lake afterwards. Matthew got up a little after 08:00. After breakfast we set off around 09:00 as we had to be at Middlehurst for 09:30. On the A500 we passed to Copelands Tours coaches doing pickups. First we saw MIB 986 and then we saw MIB 236. They had trips to Blackpool York and Llandudno so we probably saw the Llandudno and Blackpool coaches. On the way we also saw Z Carz V690 EBC and then we saw D104 XAN. They had trips to Blackpool and Southport. We arrived at Middlehurst just before 09:30 whilst they were still cleaning out the minibus ready for the trip. Matthew got a picture of the bus before saying goodbye and going inside for short while. Todays bus was FJ10 BJY.

Aiming High FJ10 BJY in Packmoor

Shortly afterwards they set off for the museum. Today they had a pottery class and made pottery masks. Here is the clay face before he started to put features on it.

Making a face at the Gladstone Pottery Museum

After they finished the face they headed back to Middlehurst. Next was Bennetts minibus N295 DWE done from Middlehurst to Westport Lake. They got back around 12:40. When we met back up with Matthew we decided to go find somewhere to go to eat. as we travelled down the tunstall by-pass towards the A500, mum spotted a sign for a snack van. After a short drive around we spotted the burger van in the car park of Wickes in Tunstall. The burger van overlooks the by-pass and from there you have a great view of the valley and all the woodlands surrounding the A500. We had some burgers and bacon baps between us before setting off for Westport Lake. On the way we decided to drive down Chemical Lane instead of going on the A500. We stopped for a short while on Peel Street because I wanted to see if the steps you can see on the A500 as you head North from Porthill can be accessed from here. I had a quick walk to the top of the hill and I discovered this to be the case. We also saw something which I hadn't seen in a very long time. 'The Thing' graffiti.

'The Thing' off Chemical Lane Lake

Back in the 1980's it used to be everywhere around Stoke-on-Trent and we even saw it in Rhyl once! Longport used to seem to be the centre of 'Thing' activity, but most of the concrete fences that use to be his canvas had disappeared. As we carried on along Chemical Lane we saw 2 class 66 locomotives parked up behind Longport Railway station. We then headed onto the A527. when we arrived at Westport Lake we parked up and headed off around the pool. we decided to go around the smaller pool and then we did a path from the far corner that eventually took us to the footbridge near Longport railway station. We walked back to the little lake and we stopped to feed the birds for a short while. It was mainly Mallards but a couple of swans came to feed.

Swans at Westport Lake

Matthew took another picture just to be sure...

More Swans at Westport Lake

We walked back to the main pool and then started to walk around in a clockwise direction. I wanted to walk in the woods towards the railway line and so when we saw a style we walked through. Mum stayed behind and had a rest. The path quickly turned very boggy and walked along the path for about 100yds which was at least an inch deep in mud all the way along. It's a good job mum didn't come this way in her sandals. We eventually got back onto the main path and headed to the North West corner of the site. As the path turned back towards the lake we spotted a clearing by the fence. We stopped for a while so we could look at the site of the old LPG terminal. In the 70's and 80's we used to see a train most evening heading up to this terminal. We then headed back onto the path on the lakeside. We called up mum and arranged to meet her up near where we left her. We met up and then decided to feed the birds again.

A collection of birds at Westport Lake

This time as well as the Mallards, there were coots, Black headed Gulls and Canad Geese. Matthew particularly liked the Canada Geese and spent most of his time feeding them. We walked back to the main building where Matthew used the facilities and also tried to clean his boots up a little. We got an ice cream and headed back to the transport. It was around 15:00 now and Matthew wanted to go on a bit of a tour before we headed home. We went through Tunstall town passing First buses 40147 and 40148 on the way. We then headed through the Mill Hill estate and towards Chell. We then went through Fegg Hayes and at the end of the road we turned right towards biddulph. As we climbed the hill we passed First 40142 in the new livery. We went through Biddulph, passing the Hollinshead coach depot and the big sainsbury's store, we then headed along the road ans passed Congleton railway station before heading through the town. Passing the bus station and Morrison's we saw a Beartown Bakerbus and of the new Arriva double deckers on a #38 Macclesfield - Crewe service. We then headed south down the A34. we saw First Potteries 34311 on a #20 Crewe service. We headed through Talke and onto Newcastle. As we passed the First Newcastle garage around 16:00, we passed 30029 on a Northbound #34A service. We then headed back onto the A500 through Basford. Back on the A500 we headed south to Sideway and then onto the A50. We decided to go past the Z Carz garage to see what was there. The only bus visible was DAF minicoach W344 WNS

Z Carz W344 WNS at their Longton depot

We went passed the willow road site of the depot too and that was empty of buses. We then headed back home passing First 40003 and 40171 on #23 Hanley services. We got home around 16:20 and we settled down for the evening. Tea tonight was the usual sausage and mash...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