Trip to Blackpool 05-05-2018

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
MIB 302	The Strand, Longton	Blackpool Coach Station	Charter	Copeland's Tours
MIB 302	Blackpool Coach Station	The Strand, Longton	Charter	Copeland's Tours

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was going to his day service. He was also going on a day trip to Blackpool. Starting on today "Beach Bus 26" operates daily from Marton Mere Holiday Village operating express to Blackpool Tower and Town Centre and then serving all stops along the Promenade to Pleasure Beach. Matthew got up around 06:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Matthew took some batteries and we went to Longton to meet the coach in an intercity taxi. We set off onto Temple Street and we turned right onto Christchurch Street. We turned left onto Baker Street and left onto Glebedale Road. We turned right onto City Road and we ran through Fenton. We continued onto King Street and through Foley into Longton. We went under the railway bridge into Market Street and we followed the one way system onto Commerce Street. At the roundabout we turned turned sharp right onto The Strand. We stopped near to Lidl and we got pout to wait for the coach. We saw a Copeland's Tour coach approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Copeland's Tours MIB 516 on a day trip to Bury.

Copeland's Tours MIB 516 in Longton

A few minutes later we saw another coach approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required Copeland's Tours MIB 302 on the day trip to Blackpool.

Copeland's Tours MIB 302 in Longton

We got on the coach and we sat down in our seats. We set off down The Strand and we followed the one way system around onto Market Street. We turned left onto Anchor Road and we ran up the hill to Adderley Green. We turned left onto the A5272 and and we rn through Bentilee and into Bucknall. We joined the A52 and at Limekiln lights we followed the A52 around to the left. At Joiners Square we turned right onto Lichfield Street and we ran up towards Hanley. We joined the clockwise ring road and we came off at Hinde Street. We turned left onto Regent Road and we stopped to pick uo passengers. We re-joined Lichfield Street and we turned right onto the anti-clockwise ring road. We ran around to Town road and we left hanley towards Birches Head. We ran forwards onto the A5272 and we went through Sneyd Green into Smallthorne. At the roundabout we turned left onto Moorland Road and we ran down into Burslem. We turned right into Scotia Road and we ran into Tunstall. At the roundabout we went right onto the A5271 past the site of the new Asda petrol station. We stopped opposite to the Police Station to pick up passengers. We rsn onto Tunstall High Street and up to the A527. We ran down to the A500 and we went Southwards to Etruria where we came off ontio the Westbound A53. Weran through Basford and onto the one-way system. We stopped outside the swimming baths to pick up passengers and then we turned right at the roundabout onto the A527. We ran up to Wolstanton and we followed the A527 down onto the A500. We ran Northwards up the A500 and we got onto the Northbound M6. We ran Northwards for around 40 miles and then we stopped at Charnock Richard service for a compfort break. Matthew went to the toilet and when he returned we saw Westbus 171 parked in an adjacent space.

Westbus 171 in Charnock Richard service

We got back on the coach and when everybody was back onboard we set off back onto the M6. We travelled North for around 10 miles and we came off the M6 onto the M55. We ran to the end of the M55 and at the roundabout we went forwards onto Yeadon Way. We ran along the road that follows the old trackbed of the line to Blackpool Central railway station and we stopped at the coach park near to the Coral amusement arcade. Once off the coach Matthew went to the toilet. We set off towards town to get some dinner. We saw Blackpool Transport 409 on a #6 to Grange Park.

Blackpool Transport 409 in Blackpool

We walked along New Bonny Street and we crossed over the Promenade and over the tram line. Matthew went onto the beach as the tide was out. He collected some shells and wrote in the sand as well as doing some paddling in the sea. When we had finished we headed back up to The Promenade We saw Rigby's RIG 1075 going Northwards.

Rigby's RIG 1075 in Blackpool

A short while later we saw Stagecoach Lancashire 15571 on a #68 to Preston.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15571 in Blackpool

We crossed over the tram line and the Promenade and we had dinner at The Sea Fish and Chip Restaurant. Matthew had sausage chips and gravy washed down with a cup of Coke. Once we had finished we went out and we walked Southwards down the Promenade. As we walked along the Prom we saw Catch22Bus Y388 GAX on a #21 to Cleveleys.

Catch22Bus Y388 GAX in Blackpool

As we walked past Chapel Street we saw Blackpool Transport 326 on a #20 Marton Mere circular.

Blackpool Transport 326 in Blackpool

A few minutes later we saw North East YL17 BFN going Northwards up the Promenade.

North East YL17 BFN in Blackpool

Also seen was Blackpool Transport 430 on a #11 to Blackpool town centre.

Blackpool Transport 430 in Blackpool

Matthew was on his way to Madam Tussauds to see the waxworks. Outside we saw Bob's of Clacton B2 CBT going Southwards.

Bob's of Clacton B2 CBT in Blackpool

Matthew went into Madam Tussauds to see the waxworks. Matthew spent quite a while in here having his pucture taken with all the stars including Jack & Vera Duckworth, Arianne Grande and Cheryl Cole. After visiting the waxworks Matthew had an ice cream. Once we had finsihed in there we went to the Sealfe centre. Matthew went to see the fish and also got to see the sharks being fed! Once we had finished in the sea life centre we went across the road to the Central Pier. Matthew went to the toilet and went into a cafe for a bottle of Coke. We came out of the Pier and we crosse dover the road to one of the food stalls. For tea Matthew had a burger followed by some doughnuts to share! We crossed over the prome and we sat eating the burger and doughnuts and watching buses. We saw Dodd's DD06 DOT heading Northwards.

Dodd's DD06 DOT in Blackpool

We walked down the Promenade to the corner of Victoria Street and Matthew went to the toilet in Harry Ramsdens. We walked back along the Promenade and we saw Catch22Bus W361 VHB on a #21 to St Annes.

Catch22Bus W361 VHB in Blackpool

We walked around the corner to New Bonny Street and we went into the coach park. The return journey back to Longton was on Copelan'd Tours MIB 302. We got on the coach and we sat down in our allocated seats. The coach set off along Seasiders Way. We ran forwards onto Yeadon Way and we joined the Eastbound M55. We ran for around 15 miles to the North side of Preston and we got onto the Southbound M6. We ran Southwards for around 25 miles and we came off the M6 onto the M56 and stopped at Lymm servcies. Matthew went to the toilet before returning to the coach for the last leg of the journey. We re-joined the Southbound M6 and we ran down to junction 16. We went Southwards down the A500 to Etruria and we cam off the A500 and onto the Westbound A53. We ran through Basford and we joined the one-way system in Newcastle. We stopped outside the baths and we ran onto the roundabout and turned right onto the A527. We ran up to Wolstanton and then we followed the A527 down to the A500. We came off the A500 at Longport and we ran up to Trubshaw Cross. We turned left and continued along the A5271 and we ran up to Tunstall. We went Straight onto the High Street and at the roundabout we turned sharp right onto the A5271. We stopped by the police station and we continued down to Scotia Road. We continued to Burslem and we turned left onto Moorland Road. We ran up to the roundabouts and we turned right onto the A5272. We ran through Sneyd Green to Birches Head and we ran forwards onto Town Road. We joined the clockwise ring road and we ran around to Hinde Street. We turned right onto Regent Road and we stopped to set down passengers. We turned left onto Lichfield Street and we got onto the anti-clockwise ring road. We ran down Bucknall New Road and at Limekiln lights we went straight onto the A52. We tyurned right onto the A5272 and we ran up to Bentilee. We ran through Bentilee to Adderley Green and we turned right onto Anchor Road. We ran down the hill to Longton and we joined the one-way system. We turned left onto Market Street and we followed the one-way system onto Commerce Street. We went around the roundabout onto The Strand and we stopped outside Lidl. We got off the coach and the coach carried on back towards the depot. We got a Lucky Seven taxi back to Fenton. We set off down the Strand and we turned left onto King Street. We ran through Foley into Fenton and forwards onto City Road. We turned left onto Smithpool Road and left onto Temple Street. When we got back we returned to the residential unit. Matthew went back to the room and went on his computer. Later on Matthew had a bath and then had toast for supper. He then chilled out in his room until bedtime around 23:00... Mark.