Trip to Fenton / Trent Vale 05-09-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
43876	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trent Vale, opp Chubb Way (Unmarked)	22	First Potteries

Today we decided to go to Trent Vale on the bus. Not before Matthew had been out for the day with his new day service. Matthew got up around 07:45 and had some toast and orange juice and used his computer whilst he waited to be picked up. He was picked up a little before 09:00 and the drove him through Blurton via Beaconsfield Drive and we saw Copeland's Tours MIB 346. We turned left onto Church Road, forwards onto Blurton Road. At Heron Cross we saw P715 UWW at the Lightning Travel house. At Heron Cross lights we went straight over and then left onto Christchurch Street and then to his destination. Matthew spent the morning in the sensory room and using a computer. For dinner Matthew had sausage chips and gravy. In the afternoon they went to a pub in Joiners Square. We drove across City Road and onto Foutain Street. We turned left onto William Street and onto manor Street. We went down Victoria Road and up Lichfield Street. We turned into Hampton Street and parked behind the pub. Whilst there Matthew went to the toilet and then we saw an unidentified white Setra coach. Coming back we went via Victoria Road up to the roundabout near KFC and onto City Road before reaching our destination. At home time we took Matthew onto Christchurch Street and into Heron Cross. We went through Blurton and onto Church Road. We then went right onto the A5035 getting home around 15:00. At home Matthew had toast and some bubblegum Barr pop. Just before 16:00 we set off waling all the way to the bus stop on Magdalen Road. I had seen the buses earlier and we were expecting First Potteries 43876 on the bus. Bang on time a MPD Dart turned the corner and it was First Potteries 43876 as expected.

First Potteries 43876 in Blurton

We got on the bus and booked to Harpfields Road. Matthew misbehaved slightly as he said hello to someone and then we sat down near to the back of the bus. The bus was nearly empty and he took a picture of the empty back seat.

Inside First Potteries 43876

We set off right onto the A5035. The bus carried on through to Trentham and we passed Z Carz Y568 XFV going towards Longton. In Trentham we passed First Potteries 41493 on a #21 to Pacific Drive. We carried on down towards Hanford and down Church Lane. We joined onto the A34 and crossed under the A500. We passed the pub and then turn right into Harpfields Road. Here we got off the bus and Matthew took a picture of First Potteries 43876 as it went off into the distance.

First Potteries 43876 in Trent Vale

We walked back onto the A34 and we sat on the wall of the oub whilst we waited for mum to appear. Whilst we waited Matthew took a few pictures. The first bus we saw was First Potteries 41500 on a Dresden bound #22.

First Potteries 41500 in Trent Vale

We then saw LX12 CGO heading towards Hanford.

LX12 CGO in Trent Vale

We saw a couple of #101's going North. First we saw First Potteries 65027. A few minutes later this was followed by First Potteries 65001.

First Potteries 65001 in Trent Vale

We waited for a few minutes for mum to arrive and we went into the pub where Matthew had a brunch with bread and butter followed by toffee sponge pudding with ice cream. Whilst we ate highlights of the passing buses was an unidentified Stantons of Stoke coach plus Robin Hood Coaches YJ08 NSN. After we had finished eating we called Uncle Dave and we went to pick him up. We drove along the A34 passing Bennetts minibus NIL 8662, and onto the Northbound A500. We went East at the A50. We came off the A50 at Heron Cross and we dropped into Fenton. After we had picked up uncle Dave,we set off back through Heron Cross and through Blurton getting home at around 18:00. Matthew then chilled out watching bus videos on his computer. He then chilled out until bedtime around 00:00...Mark

Trip to Trent Vale 18-04-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
65727	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trent Vale, opp Chubb Way (Unmarked)	22	First Potteries

Today was by and large a bit of a chill day. Matthew had been in respite the day before and we decided that we would catch the bus up to Trent Vale to meet mum. Matthew got up around 10:30 after I went up to see him in his room and then he had toast and orange juice for breakfast. He spent most of the say on his computer catching up on what had been going on in Flickr for the last few days. For dinner I made him an omelette with some oven fries. I had been viewing what buses were out on the #22. Out of the three buses out today running a Saturday service, there was only one required one and that was First Potteries 65727. There is a rumour that this batch of Scanias are about to depart to Adderley Green. We find it easier to get Newcastle Scanias in, which we used to get on the #22A when it returned to Newcastle, and of late on the #22 when the service went over to be predominately worked by these buses. Once they go to Adderley Green they will be slightly harder for us to get. We worked out that 65727 would be on the 16:20 Longton - Newcastle departure, so we texted mum to arrange to meet in Trent Vale at the appropriate time. Just after 16:00 Matthew got dressed and we left the house and walked all the way to the stop on Magdalen Road. As we waited we were expecting to see the Longton bound #22 go past just before our bus arrived. As expected we saw First Potteries 66842 round the corner and Matthew got a picture of it.

First Potteries 66842 in Blurton

A few minutes later, First Potteries 65727 rounded the other corner and I flagged it down whilst Matthew got a picture of the bus.

First Potteries 65727 in Blurton

We booked our tickets and we sat down near the back of the bus. The bus pulled out onto the A5035 and we headed into Trentham. We then passed D&G 174 on the Trentham Plumline, before we saw First Potteries 40155 on the #21A Hanley service. We turned onto we Inn Lane and we could see a #21 to Hanley in front of us. We didn't manage to catch up with this bus as our bus kept stopping to let people off. When we got into Hanford the last off the people in front of us got off the bus and Matthew took a picture facing forwards.

Inside First Potteries 65727

At the top of Church Lane we passed 60059 on a Trentham bound #21 and we headed down the hill to join the A34. As we went towards the A500 we passed First Potteries 65035 on a southbound #101. This was followed quickly by First potteries 65732 on the third and final #22 turn. As we pulled over to the centre of the road to ,turn into Harpfields Road and we rang the bell and we stood up and got off the bus. Matthew got another picture of First Potteries 65727 before it headed off towards the hospital.

First Potteries 65727 in Trent Vale

We walked back onto the A34 and back to the pub where mum was waiting in the car in the pub car park. Inn the pub Matthew had his usual meal. It was sausage egg and chips with extras of bacon and bread and butter. This was followed by toffee sponge pudding and ice cream. After we had finished eat we went back to the car and gave Uncle Dave a call. Matthew had a conversation with him on the phone and then we set off to go and pick him up. We headed South on the A34 until we reached the A500. At the A500 we went North and then onto the Eastbound A50 which we did to Heron Cross. We went into Fenton and picked up Uncle Dave before we went back through Heron Cross. Here we saw T2 DLT near to the Lightning Travel base and we headed through Blurton. We caught up First Potteries 65727 again and we also caught up with First Potteries 40373 on a #23 to Newstead. Coming the other way was First Potteris 66842 on the Longton bound #22: We got home a little after 18:00. We chilled out, did a bit of gardening, watched the telly and Matthew watched bus videos on his computer. For a snack later on we had some lemon Meringue pie. Matthew continued to chill out on his computer and he went to bed around 00:00...Mark

Trip to Trent Vale 01-11-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
60015	Newstead, adj Crowcrofts Road	Trent Vale, opp Chubb Way (Unmarked)	22	First Potteries

Today was the last weekday of the college holiday. I had been to work in the morning and I had driven to Fenton along the A5035 and then past Z Carz depot where there were 3 buses visible today. The two coaches M534 RSO & D104 XAN were side by side and Mercedes minibus S952 was behind these. Matthew got up around 10:00 this morning and had some crumpets and orange juice for breakfast. He used his computer and watched his telly for a few hours before having half an omelette for dinner. I viewed the #22 buses and there were 2 required buses out today. First Potteries 60015 was on the #22A turn and was going to be passing through Blurton around 15:15. First Potteries 43875 was going to be working the bus through Blurton around 15:30. The other 2 buses on the #22 were dud First Potteries 40304 and 43876. We decided to go out after required Scania First Potteries 60015. It was a terrible day with regards to weather and it had been raining all day. We set off just after 15:00 and we decided to walk to the stop on the A5035 as it had a shelter. On the way there we saw an unusual working. Wardle Transport 2962 was on the Plumline instead of the usual dedicated Plum coloured bus 2963.

Wardle Transport 2962 in Blurton

We walked to the stop to wait for the bus. Wardle Transport 2962 came past us again this time heading towards Hanley. Around 15:20 (a minute or two late) the bus appeared in the distance on Magdalen Road and we could see it was a Scania. As it got closer we saw it was required First Potteries 60015 as expected.

First Potteries 60015 in Blurton

We got on the bus and booked to Trent Vale. We sat down near the back. The bus was maybe 1/3 full but people were spread out in the bus. Matthew took a picture towards the back of the few seats that were empty there.

Inside First Potteries 60015

The bus carried on along the A5035 in Trentham and then onto New Inn Lane. We carried on to Hanford passing First Potteries 41521 on the #21A and First Potteries 60060 on the #21. At the top of church Lane First Potteries 61555 was stopped and it appeared that it had been in a minor collision where someone had run into the back of the bus. We carried on down to Trent vale and onto the A34. Sometimes when a Scania works this service the bus goes straight along the A34 to avoid the tight turns in the hospital. Today however the bus turned into Harpfields Road to head towards the hospital. Had we not been meeting up with mum it would have been nice to do this rare trip of a Scania through the hospital. The bus turned and we got off, Matthew getting another picture as the bus drove away.

First Potteries 60015 in Trent Vale

We walked back onto the A34 and along towards the pub. Mum texted us to let us know she had beaten us into the pub today and we walked straight in to meet her. Matthew had two sausages, egg, chips and beans with bacon and 2 rounds of bread. He also helped mum with her cheese and sausage toastie! For after he had toffee sponge pudding and ice cream. When we had finished we went to pick up uncle dave. We headed onto the A34 and then onto the Northbound A500. We then went east on the A50 to Heron Cross and down into Fenton. When we picked up uncle Dave we headed back to heron Cross where we saw a few buses. First Potteries 40378 and 40173 were on #23/23A's and we saw JayJays Travel minibus RX57 POV going across the a50 roundabout and on Blurton Road we saw Z Carz T2 DLT. We got back home around 17:15 and Matthew spent the night on his computer, watching bus DVD's and watching telly. He went to bed around 00:00...Mark

Trip to Bucknall 18-10-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
1450	Blurton	Bucknall Newhouse Road	Charter	Wardle Transport
1450	Bucknall Newhouse Road	Blurton	Charter	Wardle Transport

Today Matthew was at home and going college. Matthew got up and was ready for college at around 08:15 when his bus turned up. It was Wardle Transport 1450.

Wardle Transport 1450 in Blurton

we got on the bus and it set off. The bus set off through Blurton and down to Heron Cross. The bus went East on the A50 to Longton. The bus went through Longton and onto Anchor Road. The bus went up to Adderley Green and the then left onto Dividy Road. we passed First Potteries 60063 on a #26A service. We carried on down to Bentilee where we went onto the a52 via Twigg Street, Wooliscroft Road and Pennell Street The bus then went onto Newhouse Road. For dinner Matthew Fish fingers and chips and beans with cake and custard for afters. he then went to the toilet. After a day at college we came out to find Wardle Transport 1450 waiting for his return journey home. The bus went along Newhouse road and onto the A52. They went through Bentilee via, Pennell Street, Wooliscroft Road and Twigg Street and onto Dividy Road. here we saw First Potteries 34286 on school bus turn. The bus headed aroun Longton Via Anchor Road and Commercial Street. The bus went into Lghtwood and stopped off Star and Garter Road before returning back to Dresden via Meir Road and Belgave Road. At this point we saw First Potteries 32627 & 34158 and Wardle Transport 4891. The bus then went into Newstead estate and we saw Z carz S952 VMY retuning to the depot After dropping off another client in Newstead we carried on towwards Trentham to drop another off near Jonathan Road. We then retuned to Blurton along the A5035. He got home around 16:00. After he had a couple of slices of toast and mum had retrned home, we went out in the car to have some tea. We turned onto the A5035 where we passed Wardle Transport 2531 on a school bus turn. At the A34 we headed north and passed preserved Midland Red 780 GHA. We stopped in Trent Vale at the Black Lion pub. We had been followed up by a coach which we now identified as Leons BT12 LCT. At the pub Matthew had sausage Egg bacon chips and beans followed by toffee sponge pudding and ice cream. Highlights of buses seen in the pub include First Potteries 65705 on a #22, First Potteries 65002 on a #101, Leons Coaches CT13 LCT and Wardle Transport 3290. When we had finished we went to pick uncle Dave up. We got back onto the A34 to Hanford and then up the A500 to Sideway. We did the A50 Eastwards to Heron Cross and then we picked up uncle Dave. We then headed back through Heron Cross passing Z Carz T2 DLT. We got home around 18:00 and Matthew chilled out on his computer. He watched a few bus DVDs and we ate some Strawberry Vienetta. He then went bed around 00:00...Mark