Trip to Trent Vale 30-08-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40011	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trent Vale, opp Chubb Way (Unmarked)	22	First Potteries

Today we decided to catch a bus up to the pub to meet mum. Earlier in the day First Potteries 34286 had worked the 08:20 from Newcastle to Longton which I saw on the way to work. Matthew got up around 09:00. I got home from work and and we chilled out at home for a while. He had a late breakfast of toast and some orange juice. I viewed the remaining #22 turns. I was hoping that First Potteries 34286 was going to work the 1318 from Newcastle to Longton. The bus was dud First Potteries 40020. The other 3 turns were dud First Potteries 40180 and required First Potteries 40011 & 40017. We decided to have dinners first. Matthew had some sandwiches and a banana, but he only ate the banana. In order to get First Potteries 40011 in, we set off to the bus stop just before 16:00. We arranged to meet mum at the pub round 16:20. Whilst we waited for our bus, we saw dud first Potteries 40180 going towards Longton.

First Potteries 40180 in Blurton

A few minutes later required First Potteries 40011 rounded the corner and he got a picture of it as it approached.

First Potteries 40011 in Blurton

We got on and sat down near the back. The bus was not empty, but people were spaced out all around the bus. Matthew took a picture of the handle on the back of one of the seats on this Solo out of first Potteries' oldest batch of these buses.

Inside First Potteries 40011

The bus set off and turned onto the A5035. We headed into Trentham and then turned right into New Inn Lane. By the man in Space we passed First Potteries 60072 on a #21 service. We carried on into Hanford and then onto the A34. We passed First Potteries Dart 40373 on a Trentham bound #21A service. The bus crossed under the A500 and passed The Black Lion. The bus turned Harpfields Road and we got up and got off the bus.

First Potteries 40011 in Trent Vale

We set off walking towards the black lion. We got on the A34 and then we saw required First Potteries on the other #22 turn.

First Potteries 40017 in Trent Vale

We could have actually caught this bus if only for one stop! We got to the pub before um due to heavy traffic on the A34. A couple of minutes later mum made an appearance and we all went into the pub. Matthew had his sausage egg chips and beans with bacon and bread and butter. For afters he had toffee sponge pudding and ice cream. Whilst we ate we saw Arriva Midlands 3417 heading North. Not sure where that was going to... After we had finished eating we went to pick up uncle Dave. We went via the A34, A500, A50 and Heron Cross. After we had picked up we returned home via Heron Cross and Blurton seeing Z Carz SL52 BTY. We got home and then chilled out. Matthew watched bus DVD's from 1980, and used his computer until bedtime around 00:30...Mark