Trip to Newcastle / Stafford 25-03-2018

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67641	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Newcastle BS	11	First Potteries
65039	Newcastle BS	Stafford, Station Road Opp Railway Station	101	First Potteries
65034	Stafford, Station Road Opp Railway Station	Newcastle BS	101	First Potteries
63175	Newcastle BS	Fenton, Smithpool Road	11	First Potteries

Today Matthew was in residential and he was going to his day service. He was also going out on the bus to Stafford. It was also the day of the computer fair in The Dome Leisure Centre. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Before Matthew went to the day centre he watched buses out of the window. Across the road we saw First Potteries 67602 on a #11 to Hanley. Also we saw Shelton Care Group DY08 FFX outside.

Shelton Care Group DY08 FFX in Fenton

A short while later we set out onto City Road and we walked down to the stop outside the flats. On the way we saw Afford rent-a-car minibus MK67 UEN parked up near to their offices.

Afford Rent-A-Car MK67 UEN in Fenton

We stood at the stop to wait for next bus towards Newcastle. A short while later we saw First Potteries 67641 on a #11 to Newcastle. We got on the bus and we booked to Newcastle before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off down City Road and we ran down the hill over the old railway line to Leek and onto the A52. We ran under the railway line and over the A500 and straight into Stoke town centre along Church Street. After a brief stop in Stoke we continued along church Street and forwards onto Hartshill Road. We ran up the hill and into Hartshill. We ran forwards onto George Street and we ran down the hill into Newcastle. We turned left at the roundabout onto Barracks Road and into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took a picture of First Potteries 67641 before it returned to Hanley on the #11 service.

First Potteries 67641 in Newcastle bus station

Once off the bus we walked along Hassel Street and we turned right onto Market lane. We went to McDonalds and Matthew had a cup of coke. After we had finished we returned to the bus station along Hassell Street. We waited for the next bus to Stafford. A short while later the bus appeared and it was First Potteries 65039 on a #101 to Stafford.

First Potteries 65039 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Stafford before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Barracks Road. We ran Southwards onto the A34 and we ran down through Trent Vale and into Hanford. We continued down through to Trentham and then we got onto the fast section of the A34. We ran through Tittensor to Darlaston pas the Darlaston Inn which closed. We continued down the A34 to the North end of Stone. We Veered left onto Newcastle Road and we ran into Stone town centre. After going around the one-way system and onto Stafford Road. We crossed over the A34 onto Eccleshall Road. We turned left onto Tilling Drive and we ran onto the industrial estate. We saw former Western Greyhound minibus WK53 EUT. We rejoined the A34 at the roundabout where the A51 goes Eastwards and we ran Southwards through the fast section on the A34 to the A513 roundabout. We ran the last couple of miles into town down the A34 onto Foregate Street and we turned right onto Chell Road. We crossed the roundabout onto Tenterbanks and we turned right onto Victoria Road. We turned left onto Station Road and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walkws South down Station Road and we turned left onto Newport Road. At the big roundabout we continued Southwards onto the A34. We walked down towards The Hough Retail Park and we stopped at the KFC for dinner. Matthew had a chicken fillet burger and fries washed down with a cup of Coke. Matthew went to the toilet and we set off back into Stafford town centre. On the way we saw Arriva Midlands 3911 on a #825 to Lichfield.

Arriva Midlands 3911 in Stafford

We crossed over the big roundabout onto the A518 and we turned right onto Bridge Street. We walk up into the centre of town and we out onto Chell Road. We crossed over into sainsbury's and Matthew used the toilet. We then walked along Chell Road and forwards onto Tenterbanks. We turned right onto Victoria Road and we went into the Park. Whilst we waited for the bus we wemt to the cafe in the park to get a drink of Coke. When we had finished we went out of the park onto Station Road to waited for the bus back to Newcastle. A few minutes later the bus appeared and it was First Potteries 65034 on a #101 to Hanley.

First Potteries 65034 in Stafford

We got on the bus and we gooked to Newcastle before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Station Road and at the end we turned left onto the A518. We ran around the South end of town and over the river onto Cope Street. We ran up Eastgate and along North Walls and into the Gaol Square bus station. We left the bus station onto the A34 and we ran Northwards to the edge of town. We continued up the fast section of the A34 to the edge of Stone and then we turned left onto the industrial estate. We ran around the estate and onto Tiling Drive. We turned right onto Eccleshall Road and we crossed the A34 onto Stafford Road. We turned left onto Crown Street and we stopped at the main stop in Stone. We ran North up Newcastle Road and we re-joined the Northbound A34. We ran Morth through Meaford and Tittensor and up into Trentham. We continued North through Hanford and Trent Vale and we past the City General hospital before going into Newcastle. We turned right onto Barracks Road and we entered the bus station from the South end. We got up and got off the bus and we saw First Potteries 67661 on a #4A to Hanley.

First Potteries 67661 in Newcastle bus station

There was a short wait for the bus back to Fenton so we walked along Hassels Street to McDonalds. Matthew had a cup of Coke and then went to the toilet. We returned to the bus station along Hassell Street. A short while later we saw First Potteries 63175 on a #11 to Hanley.

First Potteries 63175 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Fenton before we sat down towards then back of the bus. We set off onto Barracks Road and we ran up to the Jubilee roundabout. We ran onto the A53 and around the one-way system onto the A52. We ran up George Street into Hartshill and we ran down the hill into Stoke town centre. After a brief stop we continued along Church Street out of Stoke and over the A500. We ran under the railway line and we continued onto City Road. At the top of the hill we got up and got off the bus. We crossed over City Road and we walked across to Temple Street and back to the residential unit. Matthew wen up to his room to chill out and use is computer. He also watched buses out of the window. We saw former Wardle Transport & Arriva Midlands minibus YX53 CYZ going towards Longton.

YX53 CYZ in Fenton

For tea Matthew had chicken, potatoes and carrots followed by custard. later on Matthew chilled out in his room and used the comnputer and watched television. Matthew had a bath and had some toast for supper. He returned to his room to chill out and use the computer until bedtime around 23:00... Mark.