Trip to Middleton / Rochdale 27-11-2021

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3101	Middleton BS	Rochdale Interchange	17	Go North West
37460	Rochdale Interchange	Kirkholt, Hogarth Road	6	First Manchester
69539	Kirkholt, Hogarth Road	Rochdale Interchange	6	First Manchester
37459	Rochdale Interchange	Oldham BS	409	First Manchester
33682	Oldham BS	Ashton BS	409	First Manchester
12197	Ashton BS	Hyde BS	330	Stagecoach Manchester

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was going to St Helens. We decided to re-visit Widnes. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast for breakfast. before Matthew went to Widnes he watched buses out of the window. whilst waiting for the time to go to the day centre, we saw Afford rent-a-car DY21 JWE.

Afford rent-a-car DY21 JWE in Fenton

Matthwe went into the living room and we saw Temple Street Church RX18 GZW.

Temple Street Church RX18 GZW in Fenton

Around 11:30 we came to pick Matthew up. After getting ready we went downstairs to the car. We set off onto Temple Street and we turned left onto Smithpool Road. We turned right onto Wheildon Road and we ran down the hill and picked up uncle Dave. under the railway line towards Stoke and we joined the A500. As we travelled Northwards up the A500 we saw silver minibus DG64 KUT, white minibus HT68 HHE, an unidentifled blue minibus and an unidentifled Moffat & Williamson coach. The A500 was quite bus as far as Longport and afterwards it eased off a little. We ran into Cheshire and we joined the Northbound M6 at junction 16. As we went up the M6 we saw silver minibus DN08 GOC, an unidentifled Parks of Hamilton coach, an unidentifled A2B Travel minicoach, an unidentifled Atlantic Travel coach and City Centre Central KE64 HFG. We ran up to Junction 19 and we got onto the Eastbound A556. We continued for a few miles and we ran forwards onto the M56. As we travelled Eastwards we saw an unidentified coach on National Express(#328). We took the junction to go onto the The anti-clockwise M60 and we circled around Manchester. We ran through Stockport and we passed an unidentified coach on National Express 540. When we got to the right junction we left the M60 and got onto the Eastbound A576. We ran the last couple of miles into middle and at the roundabout we ran forwards onto Limetrees Road. We entered the car park and we parked up. After visiting the toilet in the shopping centre we went outside to a newish cafe called Sub Station. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. Once we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we walked over to the bus station. We saw Stagecoach Manchester 10850 on a #112 to Manchester. We went into the bus station and we looked for bus to catch. On layover was dud Go North West 6204. As we thought about where we could go we saw Go North West 3101 on a #17 to Rochdale. We got on the bus and we booked System One bus only tickets at £5.20. We went upstairs and we sat down. The bus set off out of the We set off out of the bus station and we turned left and ran past the Middleton Arena. We turned onto the A664. North up Long Street and then Rochdale Road. The road turned due North by the canal and we carried on under the M62 and into Castleton. We joined the A58 and we traveled Eastwards into town. We turned right onto Drake Street and we approached the interchange from the South. We got off the bus and we headed straight for the toilet. So we headed out of the bus station and up the steps onto this elevated walkway. parked up next to the steps in between doing #6 Kirkholt circulars was dud Transdev Rosso 733. It turned out it took around 30 minutes. We carried on down the walkway and we saw required Rotala Diamond 40740 on a #471 to Bolton. Afterwards we had a walk around the bus station to see what we could catch. We saw First Manchester 37460 on a #6 to Kirkholt. We got onto the bus and we flashed the System One tickets to the driver before we went upstairs and we sat down. The bus set off out of the interchange. We went down River Street and onto Water Street. We turned left onto the A6223. We turned left onto Oldham Road. We turned right onto the A664 and we turned left onto Daventry Road. We continued into Kirkholt and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walked up Daventry Road. We went to use the disabled toilet on Daventry Road but it was in use so Matthew went to the gents. Having used the toilet we walked down to Daventry Road Matthew used the Gents. Afterwards we waited for a bus towards Rochdale. Whilst we waited we saw Transdev Rosso 1232 on a R7 to Castleton. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 69539 on a #6 to Rochdale. We got onto the bus and we flashed the System One tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off along Daventry Road. We turned right onto the A664 and we turned left onto Oldham Road. We turned left onto Milnrow Road and we turned right onto Drake Street. We turned right onto Water Street and into the Interchange where we got up and got off the bus. We walked to the Interchange and we waited for a bus towards Oldham. After a while we saw First Manchester 37459 on a #409 to Ashton. We got onto the bus and we flashed the System One tickets to the driver before we went upstairs and we sat down. The bus set off out of the interchange. We went down River Street and onto Water Street. We turned left onto the A6223 and we saw First Manchester 33747 on a #409 to Rochdale. We turned left onto Oldham Road and we continued into Balderstone. We continued Westwards along the A671 under the M62 and into Royton and we saw an unidentified Jacko's Travel midicoach. We continued straight up Long Sight. We continued Southwards past thr Royal Oldham Hospital and we turned left onto St Mary's Way. We travelled Eastwards for a short distance and we turned right into Oldham bus station. We walked down to the other part of the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus. and we saw required First Manchester 37461 on layover. The plan now was to head up back to the other half of the bus station and we saw First Manchester 33831 on a #83 to Manchester. As we were about to enter the bus station to go to the newsagents we saw required First Manchester 33682 on a #409 to Ashton. We decided to abandon the plan to go to the newsagent and catch the required First double decker. We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus ticket to the driver before we went upstairs and we sat down. The bus set off out of the bus station and down the hill before turning left. We crossed Oldham way and we went South Down the A627. We continued Hathershaw and Into Fitton Hill. We ran up the hill and into Bardsley. We ran forwards onto Waterloo and we ran down the hill into Ashton. We turned left onto the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. We waited for a bus towards Hyde. A short time later we saw Stagecoach Manchester 19352 on a #237 to Glossop. We walked into the bus station and Matthew used the toilet. We stood by the #330 stop and we watched buses coming and going from the bus station. On stand we saw Stagecoach Manchester 12126 on a #219 to Manchester. We looked up the time of the next #330 bus up to Hyde. A few minutes later we saw Arriva Midlands 12197 on a #330 to Stockport. We got on the bus and we flashed the System One day tickets to the driver for the final time today before we went upstairs and we sat down near to the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and onto the A6043. We turned left onto the A627 and we through Dukinfield and we ran into Hyde. We turned left onto Bank Street and we entered the bus station from the East end. Web got up an got of the bus and we saw Stagecoach Manchester 36422 on a #346 to Ashton. Once off the bus Matthew decided he wanted the toilet. The bus station toilet were closed so we went for a walk to look for somewhere for Matthew to go. We ran up Clarendon Street and we spotted a pub on the corner. We went in the pub and Matthew went to the toilet. After using the toilet Matthew had a glass of Coke. After we finished the drink we went outside and met up with uncle Dave. We walked back down Clarendon Street and mum was waiting for us in the car near to the old entrance to the railway station. Mum was waiting with a sausage roll and a can of Irn Bru. We set off along Clarendon Street and we turned right onto the A57. We turned right onto Clark Way and we ran to the end. We turned left onto the B6170 and we turned left onto A627. A few hundred yards up the road we pulled into a parking area and we stopped to pick up chips. Once we had the chips we continued on our journey. Matthew had sausage chips and gravy on a tray. We rejoined the A627 and we turned right onto the B6170. We turned left onto the M67 and we turned left onto the clockwise M60. We ran forwards onto the M56 and as we travelled Westwards. We ran forwards onto the A556 and we continued forwards as far as the M6. We joined the Southbound M6 and as we travelled down we saw Gwyn Jones YN06 NZX. We came off the M6 at junction 16 and we joined the Southbound A500. Seen on the A500 were taxi minibus SF11 MVO, white minibus BX60 ELH. We ran through Longport and Etruria and into Stoke. We came off the A500 and we ran through Shelton and Stoke. We came off the A500 and we turned left onto City Road. We ran up the hill into Fenton and we turned right onto Smithpool Road, We turned left onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. Matthew went upstairs and went up to his room. Later on Matthew had a bath and then had toast for supper. He then chilled out in his room until bedtime around 23:00... Mark.

Trip to St Helens / Old Swan 24-11-2018

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3012	Earlestown BS	St Helens BS	34	Arriva NW&W
11112	St Helens BS	Prescot, Church Street	10A	Stagecoach Merseyside
10547	Prescot, Church Street	Old Swan, Queens Drive	10A	Stagecoach Merseyside
4557	Old Swan, Clayford Crescent	Woolton, Kings Drive	81A	Arriva NW&W
4605	Woolton, Manor Road	St Helens BS	89	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to re-visit St Helens. We had checked the weather for today and it was cool cloudy weather. We gave Matthew a list of destinations in the North West and Midlands and from the list he chose St Helens. Other than check the roads on AA road watch we did no other research. Matthew got up around 10:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. After getting ready we set off around A5035 onto the Westbound A5035. We ran past Stanley Matthew Way into Trentham and we stopped at the BP garage to top up with petrol. Whilst we filled up we saw D&G 171 on a #14 to Hanley. Once we had filled up we we set off onto the Eastbound A5035 and we turned left onto Stanley Matthews Way. We past past the BET365 stadium where preparations were on their way for the Stoke City vs QPR game. We got onto the Westbound A50 and at Sideway we joined the Northbound A500. Travelling up the A500 we saw silver coach YD67 MKO & Carvers DF57 UON. We joined the M6 at Junction 16 and we ran Northwards through the roadworks. Travelling up the M6 we saw Kier WR17 JFU, Shearings 138, an unidentified National Express liverried coach on a #539 to Bournemouth, Happy Days 229 & silver minibus DG68 OMH. We came off the M6 at junction 21A and went Westwards along the M62 for one junction. Once off the M62 we went Northwards up the A49 into Newton. We past through the town and we turned left onto the A572. We ran for a couple of miles and we turned left onto Market Street by the Texaco petrol station. We turned right onto Tamworth Street and right onto Lord Street and into the car park. We parked up and we walked along Lord Street and around the corner onto Legh street and into the pub. Due to a problem the pub wasn't serving food today. Matthew went to the toilet and then we went through the bus station to Tamworth Street to Crumpets, where we used to eat in Earlestown before the pub was opened. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. He also helped mum to eat her sausage and cheese toastie. Once we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we went out and around the corner to the bus station. We only had to wait a few seconds and we saw dud Arriva NW&W 3012 approaching on a #34 to St Helens.

Arriva NW&W 3012 in Earlestown bus station

We got on the bus and we brought Arriva NW Day saver ticket at £5.50 each before we sat down near to the back of the bus. The bus set off back onto Tamworth Street and we turned left onto Market Street. We joined the A572 and we went Westwards through Ashton Green and Parr. In Parr we passed dud Arriva NW&W 2525 on a #31 Parr service. We joined the A58 and we came into the town centre along Corporation Street. The bus emptied out on Bickerstaff Street where we got up and got off the bus. Also on Bickerstaff Street was Arriva NW&W 2902 on a #20 to Earlestown.

Arriva NW&W 2902 in St Helens bus station

We had a walk around the bus station whilst we decided what bus we could do next. We saw required Stagecoach Merseyside 11112 on layover in between runs on the #10A to Liverpool.

Stagecoach Merseyside 11112 in St Helens bus station

We walked onto Corporation Street to look at the vehicles on Layover. We saw required Arriva NW&W 4441 on layover in between runs on the #10A to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4441 in St Helens bus station

We continued around the bus station and into the middle stands. We saw Hatton's Dennis Dart MX06 ULP on the #12 St Helens town centre circular.

Hatton's MX06 ULP in St Helens bus station

We made a quick enquiry in the office to see if the #10A was still a quality bus partnership. With the fact checked we decided to do Stagecoach double decker 11112 on the #10A as we had never seen a Stagecoach double decker work this service before. We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Day Saver tickets to the driver. The lower saloon was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Merseyside 11112 before we went upstairs and sat down.

Inside Stagecoach Merseyside 11112

The bus set off out of the bus station through town and past the new Nando's and Cinema. We joined the A58 and we ran Westwards before we turned off the main road to head towards Thatto Heath down Lugsmore Lane where we passed Stagecoach Merseyside 24180 on a #10 to St Helens. 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 where we saw silver shuttle buses 2, We went around the town to the North and we got up and got off the bus just to the North of the bus station. Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Merseyside 11112 before it continued on towards Liverpool.

Stagecoach Merseyside 11112 in Prescot

Once off the bus, we popped into the Sun Inn where Matthew went to the toilet before we had a can of Coke from behind the bar. After Matthew had drank the Coke we went back outside to meet uncle Dave. We decided to go back to the same bus stop and catch another #10A further on towards Liverpool. There was a display at the bus stop and it said that the next #10A would be a Stagecoach one. A few minutes later we saw a Stagecoach double decker approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required Stagecoach Merseyside 10547 on a #10 A to Liverpool.

Stagecoach Merseyside 10547 in Prescot

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva NW Day Saver ticket to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. We ran out of Prescot and we ran forwards onto the A58 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 by the out ring road. We crossed the ring road and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Merseyside 10547 as it continued towards Liverpool.

Stagecoach Merseyside 10547 in Old Swan

Once off the bus we walked towards the Woolton bound stop. On the way we saw Arriva NW&W 2667 on a #61 to Bootle.

Arriva NW&W 2667 in Old Swan

We walked around the corner and we waited for the next Southbound bus. there was a bit of a gap in the service and we had to wait around 20 minutes. Whilst we waited Matthew had a Milky Way. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was required Arriva NW&W 4557 on a #81A to Liverpool Airport.

Arriva NW&W 4557 in Old Swan

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva NW Day Saver tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. The bus set of down the ring road and we ran southwards towards Broadgreen. instead of continuing along over the fly over the bus diverts down onto the roundabout. We rejoined the A5058 and we ran South into Childwall. At Childwall Fiveways we ran onto Childwall Prior Road. We ran forwards onto Childwall Park Avenue and at the roundabout we went left onto Woolton Road. We ran forwards for another 1/2 mile and then we came back into familiar teritory as we passed Gateacre Brow where the #89 turns towards Belle Vale. We continued along the road into Woolton and as we approached we saw the town was incredibly busy. We decided to get up and get of the bus here. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4557 as it continued towards the airport.

Arriva NW&W 4557 in Woolton

Once off the bus we fought our way through the crowds and we turned left onto Kings Drive. We went to Sainsbury's through the back entrance and Matthew used the toilet. We brought a bottle of Coke and a couple of chocolate bars and we paid for the them at the kiosk. We went out of the back entrance and up Kings Drive. We turned left onto Speke Road and we walked Southwards to the next bus stop. We waited for a few minutes for the next St Helens bound bus. A few minutes later we saw a double decker approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required Arriva NW&W 4605 on a #89 to St Helens.

Arriva NW&W 4605 in Woolton

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva NW Day Saver ticket to the driver for the final time today before we went upstairs and sat down. We ran North up Speke Road into Woolton and we continued forwards the B5171. We followed the road to the right onto Gateacre Brow and we ran down the hill towards Belle Vale. We called at the Belle vale bus station where we saw EU08 FHD on a #3 to Huyton. We left the bus station and we turned right onto Childwall Valley Road. We turned left onto Naylor's Road and we ran north under the M62 and forwards onto Wheat Hill Road. At the end we turned left onto the B5080 and we ran North West up to the Crofters Arms. At the roundabout we turned right onto the B5199 before turning right into Huyton Bus station. We sat outside for a brief moment near to the bingo hall before continuing onto the stand. After loading up we ran north up Lathom Road and onto Huyton Lane. We crossed under the M57 and we turned right onto Carr Lane. We ran into Prescot from the South and into the bus station. The bus set off out of town along the A57 down to the hospital where we turned left into Delph Lane. We Zigged and zagged through the street to the South of the A58 and then we joined the A58. We continued along the A58 and we passed through the town before circling around the bus station on Corporation Street so that we could enter the bus station from the East end. When we got onto corporation Street we straight through onto Hall Street and into the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4605 before it returned to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4605 in St Helens bus station

We continued along Corporation Street and we saw Arriva NW&W 713 on layover.

Arriva NW&W 713 in St Helens bus station

Also seen was Arriva NW&W 4414 on layover in between runs on the #10A.

Arriva NW&W 4414 in St Helens bus station

We met up with mum and we walked back to the car. We set off along Corporation Street and we joined the Eastbound A58. We veered right onto the A572 and we ran out of town and into Earlestown. We stopped at the Texaco petrol station and we filled up with petrol. Once we had filled up we continued along the A49 to Newton. We turned right onto the A49 and as we travelled Southwards we passed Ogdens S10 JDO & Hilton Trvel 6627 VF. We continued South to Winwick and we veered left onto the A49 link road. We joined the M6 at junction 22 and we headed Southwards. As we travelled Southwards on the M6 we saw an unidentified National Express liverired coach(#540). Travelling through the road work section on the motorway we were passed by Centurion Travel YS17 UFG.

Centurian Travel YS17 UFG on the M6

Further South we were passed by The Kings Ferry WJ16 OHV.

The Kings Ferry WJ16 OHV on the M6

We continued down the M6 and we saw silver minibuses YS18 LHF & DG16 BWY. We were also passed by a 3rd coach, Gwyn Jones BF10 VCK.

Gwyn Jones BF10 VCK on the M6

At junction 16 we joined the Southbound A500. On the A500 we saw Birmingham International BJ15 TWD. We came off the A500 at Sideway and we went Eastwards along the A50 to Longton. At Longton we ran along the high level A50 and we did a u-turn at the East end of town to see what was parked up at Z Carz. We turned left into Willow Row and we saw Z Carz Vauxhall minibus DG10 VMO in the compound.

Z Carz DG10 VMO in Longton

We ran Westwards along the A50 and we cam of at Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran through Blurton. We continued up to Church Road and we turned right into Beaconsfield Avenue and back home at 19:30. For a late tea bangers and mash with carrots followed by Bakewell tart. We did an e-mail and we wrote some of the Blog. Matthew went to bed around 00:00.... Mark.