Trip to Trent Vale 05-04-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40143	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trent Vale, opp Chubb Way (Unmarked)	22	First Potteries

Today Matthew was due to go to Heathfield for a playscheme for most of today. He got up a little after 09:00. they left home around 10:00 and went onto the A5035 to the Hem Heath pub where they turned down Stanley Matthews Way. They went on the a50 and then onto the Northbound A500 up the A53. They did the A53 up to Sandbac Road and then went across Smallthorne Roundabouts and down Ford Green Road. They turned left onto Chell Heath Road. Matthew said goodbye to mum and then had a fun day of making cakes, eating ice cream and jelly as well as his packed lunch. I picked Matthew up at 15:00 and took him back a different route. We headed up onto High Lane passing Wardle Transport 2410 on the #61 to Hanley. We then went to Turnhurst and onto The A527 Tunstall by-pass which we did down to the A500. We did the A500 down to Sideway and ten onto the A50. On Stanley Matthews Way we saw Wardle Transport 2963 on the Hanley bound Plumline service. We went home passing 42726 and 40003 on Hanley bound #23's. As it was just before 15:30 we decided to catch a bus down to tent vale to meet mum at the Black Lion. We walked down to the stop on Magdalen Road to wait for the bus which I knew was going to be either 40143 or 40147. First Potteries 40016 made an appearance on the Longton bound #22 as the buses often pass into Blurton.

First Potteries 40016 in Blurton

A couple of minutes late an ALX200 Dart rounded the corner and it was 40143.

First Potteries 40143 in Blurton

The bus was nearly empty so Matthew took a picture of the inside of the bus before he sat down.

Inside First Potteries 40143

We set off through Trentham and the bus was a little on the rattly side especially when idling. We called mum to tell her we were on the bus so that she could set off to meet us. We followed First Potteries 61145 up New Inn Lane and we passed First Potteries 42727 at the corner of Wilson Road. As we crossed under the a500 we saw First Potteries 41496 on a Trentham bound #21. We decided to get off the bus as it turned onto Keelings drive so that we didn't have to cross over the A34. We passed 40147 on the 3rd daytime #22 turn and then got off the bus. We walked back to the black lion and then sat on the wall as we had beaten mum down to the pub. Whilst we waited we saw and photographed First Potteries 65005 on a Hanley bound #101 service.

First Potteries 65005 in Trent Vale

A few minutes latter mum turned up and we went into the pub. Matthew then had an hour or so bus watching and eating which are 2 of his favourite things. Matthew had 2 sausage, egg, bacon chips and beans with 2 oatcakes followed by treacle sponge and ice cream. He had this with a glass of Coke. The highlight of the buses was Bennetts NIL 8662 which travelled North up the A34. After we had finished eating we went outside and called uncle Dave. We headed of to collect him. A34, A500 to sideway and then A50 to Heron Cross. We headed into fenton and picked up uncle Dave. We passed 40003 and 42726 on #23A's before retuning to Heron Cross. On Blurton Road we saw Lightning travel vehicles FD53 UNX and NX03 JYJ. We got home around 17:30 and Matthew chilled out on his computer before a let snack of some cheesecake and then bedtime...Mark