Trip to Rudyard Lake 15-08-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJX	Shelton, opp Cemetery Road	Rudyard Lake	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	Rudyard Lake	Shelton, adj Cemetery Road	Charter	Aiming High

Today Matthew was going to Rudyard Lake. This was the third time he was due to go to Rudyard Lake this year, but it was the first time he actually got to go. The first the time the weather was really poor ans it was cancelled at short notice, the second time was the 15th July, The day before he was due to go and told us it was cancelled because the boat had broke and he went to Tatton Park instead. We checked the weather for today, and it said it would be clear until around 12:00 with rain moving in for the afternoon. Matthew got up a little after 08:00. He needed a little bit of persuasion to get up, but he got out of bed eventually and had toast for breakfast. He was picked up by a couple of members of staff from Crossroads and they took him up the Shelton to meet the bus. On the way up he passed Wardle Transport 4777 on the X50. When he got to Shelton his transport for the day was waiting. It was Aiming High FJ10 BJX.

Aiming High FJ10 BJX in Shelton

They went up to John Street in Hanley to pick up a few others and whilst there he saw First Potteries 60013 on a #20 to Crewe. Also in Hanley they saw GHA single decker SB27 on the X81. He also saw First 60081 on the #34. They headed North Eastwards to Leek and then up the A523 to Rudyard Lake. They also stopped at a new Shell garage. At the lake Matthew took a few pictures. Here is a picture of the lake with many boats moored up on there.

Boats on Rudyard Lake

Later he took a picture of the jetty.

The jetty on Rudyard Lake

They went out on a boat for a while and then it started to rain heavily so the headed back to shore.

Another jetty on Rudyard Lake

After they got back to shore they decided to have a trip on the Rudyard Lake Steam Railway. It was the red tank engine King Aurthur on his train.

King Aurthur at The Dam station

After a round trip on the railway, they headed back to the minibus and headed homewards. Matthew also saw a coach parked up at the lake. He headed back to shelton. They travelled down the A523 and then onto the A53. At Cobridge they turned left toeards Hanley. They then went around Hanley and then to Shelton along Shelton New Road. The two members of staff drove him home and saw Mercedes minibus N257 BWC. In Stoke he saw 60063 on the #26 service. they then went through Fenton to the A50 link road and then to Heron Cross and Blurton. Matthew got home a little earlier than expected just before 15:00. He then had his usual Wednesday night of a chippy tea and then a visit to Uncle Dave's before returning home just before bedtime...Mark