Trip to Hinckley / Earl Shilton 27-10-2018

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
1008	Hinckley, The Cresent BS	Earl Shilton, Almeys Lane	1	Arriva Midlands
3807	Earl Shilton, Almeys Lane	Hinckley, The Cresent BS	158	Arriva Midlands
1005	Hinckley, The Cresent BS	Barwell, Willowdene Way	2	Arriva Midlands
3808	Barwell, The Square	Hinckley, The Cresent BS	158	Arriva Midlands
3799	Hinckley, The Cresent BS	Nuneaton BS	158	Arriva Midlands

Today we decided to re-visit Hinckley. We discussed the possibility of going to Hinckley and Matthew said yes. Research consisted of checking the weather, which was for cold weather with light rain showers brightening up later in the afternoon. We also checked AA roadwatch to see if the roads were clear and we downloaded a map of the Arriva services around Hinckley. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 12:00 onto the A5035 and we ran through Dresden up to Longton. We got onto the high Level A500 and we turned right at the next roundabout onto baths Road and into the Tesco petrol station. Once we had filled up we got onto the Westbound A50 and we ran up to Sideway. We got onto the Southbound A500 and we ran down to the motorway. We got onto the Southbound M6 and we ran down to junction 12. As we travelled South we passed Shearing Holidays 140, Abbey Coaches CE02 YRZ and an unidentified BBC East Lancs Myllenium single decker bus. We came of the M6 onto the eastbound A5 and we saw Linburg BF16 XPJ. Just before we reached Cannock we stopped at the Trucker Rest cafe. As soon as we got inside Matthew visited the toilet. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. Once we had finished eating we continued Eastwards along the A5 we saw B&N coaches A20 BXN. Passing close to Lichfield and Tamworth, we came off the A5 near to Nuneaton and we went Eastwards up the B4666. We came into the town centre and we turned right into Rigby Road and we parked up in the Trinity Lane East car park. We said goodbye to mum, and we set off towards the new bus station. This is the first time we have visited Hinckley since the completion of The Crescent Bus Station. AS we walked into the bus station we saw Stagecoach Midlands 36752 on a #10 to Grove Farm.

Stagecoach Midlands 36752 in Hinckley bus station

A short while later we saw Arriva Midlands 2570 on a #7 to Nuneaton.

Arriva Midlands 2570 in Hinckley bus station

Also seen was Arriva Midlands 2410 on a #7 to Burbage.

Arriva Midlands 2410 in Hinckley bus station

We decided to do something Northbound so we waited at the end stop for a #1 or #158. Whilst we waited we were surprised to see Arriva Midlands 1005 on a #2 to Burbage.

Arriva Midlands 1005 in Hinckley bus station

A few minutes later we saw another another approaching. As it got closer we saw it was required Arriva Midlands 1008 on a #1 to Earl Shilton.

Arriva Midlands 1008 in Hinckley bus station

We got on the bus and we booked Arriva Zone two tickets at £4.20 each before we sat down. We set off out of the bus station and we turned right onto Regent Street, stopping at the stop from where the services used to start. We ran forwards onto the B590 and we headed out of town. We crossed the A47 and we turned right Elmesthorpe Lane. We then ran through the estates to the East of town after travelling for over a mile we came into the North end of Earl Shilton. We travelled in along Mill Lane, Church Street and onto the High Street. A couple of stops down we got up and got off the bus. As we had got off the bus we had spotted a shop so we walked up the road to the shop. Matthew had a can of Coke and a can of Irn Bru as well as a couple of chocolate bars. We returned to the stop from where we had got off in order to wait for a bus back to Hinckley. Whilst we were waiting there was a flurry of activity. We saw Arriva Midlands 3808 going towards Leicester. We also saw Stagecoach Midlands 26220 going towards Coventry.

Stagecoach Midlands 26220 in Earl Shilton

Right behind the Stagecoach Midlands bus was dud Arriva Midlands 3807 on a #158 to Nuneaton.

Arriva Midlands 3807 in Earl Shilton

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Zone two tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We ran through the centre of Earl Shilton and we continued on down to Hinckley Road and we turned right onto Shilton Road. A couple of minutes later we were in the centre of Barwell. We ran onto High Street and we continued onto Mill Street. We ran forwards onto Hinckley Road and at the junction we turned left onto Ashby Road and we ran Southwards. Due to an incident on the junction of Ashby Road and he A47, We got about 1/4 mile down the road and we had to turn around. We headed back North up Ashby Road and by now a police car had turned up to stop traffic going Southwards. We turned left onto Rogue Lane and it was quite difficult for the large bus to pass cars coming the other way. At the end of the lane we turned left onto Stoke Road. We crossed the A47 by Morrison's and the road here had been blocked off by police too. We continued into town and we ran forwards onto Hollycroft. We ran onto the B4667 and we ran into town. We turned left onto Coventry Road and we turned right into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 3807 before it continued towards Nuneaton.

Arriva Midlands 3807 in Hinckley bus station

As we came into the bus station we spotted required Arriva Midlands 1005 on a #2 to Barwell. We headed up to the top end of the bus station and Matthew got a picture of Arriva Midlands 1005.

Arriva Midlands 1005 in Hinckley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Zone two tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and we turned right onto Regent Street. We stopped on the bus top were the service used to start and we continued Northwards out of town. We veered left onto Hollycroft and we turned right into Stanley Road. At the end of the road we turned right onto Tudor Road and we passed Arriva Midlands 1008 coming the other way. We continued onto Netherley Road and we crossed over Ashby Road onto Barwell Lane. We turned right onto Stoneygate Drive and we ran to the end. We turned left onto Leicester Road and we crossed over the A47 onto The Common. We ran into Barwell and we got up to get off. Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 1005 before we got off the bus.

Inside Arriva Midlands 1005

When we got off the bus we crossed over the road and we visited the toilets. When we had finished we waited at the stop for the next Southbound bus. Even though in theory there was one due in 15 minutes, the display at the bus stop said the next bus wasn't for 30 minutes. We waited for the bus to appear and things were delayed due to the incident on Ashby Road. Going the other way we saw required Arriva Midlands 3803 on a #158 to Leicester.

Arriva Midlands 3803 in Barwell

Around 16:40 the bus came around the corner and it was dud Arriva Midlands 3808. We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Zone two tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off onto the High Street and we ran forwards onto Mill Street. We continued onto Hinckley Road and at the end we turned left onto Ashby Road. We crossed over the A47 and we ran into town. Whatever had happened on the road had now been cleared up. We ran into town from the North along the B4667. We turned left onto Coventry Road and right into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took a picture of Arriva Midlands 3808 before it continued on towards Nuneaton.

Arriva Midlands 3808 in Hinckley bus station

Mum had messaged us to say that there was a cafe at Nuneaton bus station and there was cake waiting with Matthews name on it! Parked up in the bus station was required Arriva Midlands 2002 on layover in between working on the #66 to Nuneaton.

Arriva Midlands 2002 in Hinckley bus station

We decided to catch the next bus to Nuneaton to meet up with mum, which in theory was a #7. A few minutes later we saw another bus approaching. It was required Arriva Midlands 3799 on a #158 to Nuneaton.

Arriva Midlands 3799 in Hinckley bus station

We decided to do this bus so we could get back to Nuneaton quicker. We got on the bus and we flashed the Zone two Day Saver tickets to the driver for the final time today before sitting down towards the back of the bus. After a short wait the bus set off out of the bus station and we turned B4666. We ran the two or so miles down to the A5 and after a short run along the A5 we continued down the A47 into Nuneaton. As we approached the town centre we passed required Arriva Midlands 2403 on a #7A to Sketchley Brook. We crossed over the railway line and we joined the ring road before entering the bus station. We got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 3799 before it continued towards Leicester.

Arriva Midlands 3799 in Nuneaton bus station

Matthew went to the toilet and then we met up with mum in Jenny's Cafe. We all had burgers and fries and Matthew washed his down with a can of Coke. Once we had finished Matthew went to the toilet in the cafe and we brought Matthew some cake as promised. We decided to have a walk around the bus station to take a few pictures before we return to the car. On layover was Stagecoach Midlands 36167 between working on the #18 to Ansley.

Stagecoach Midlands 36167 in Nuneaton bus station

Around the other side of the bus station we saw Stagecoach Midlands 36746 on layover.

Stagecoach Midlands 36746 in Nuneaton bus station

We walked over to the multi-storey car park and we got in the car. Mum arrived at the car shortly afterwards and Matthew had a can of Irn Bru. We set off out of the car park and we crossed over the ring road into Asda where we filled up with petrol. We got back onto the ring road and we ran around the one-way system near to the railway station. We turned left onto the A444 and we ran over the railway and out of town. A few miles out of town we got onto the Westbound A5. We ran North near to Tamworth and Lichfield and we ran through Brownhills to the Eastern end of Cannock. We joined the Westbound A460 and we ran up to the motorway. At junction 11 we got onto the Northbound M6. It was now fully dark. As we travelled Northwards vehicles that we passed were an unidentified New Adventure Travel coach, an unidentified Edwards coach and an unidentified Gwyn Jones coach. We came off the M6 at junction 15 and we got onto the Northbound A500. At Sideway we came off the A500 and we got onto the Eastbound A50. As we climbed up the hill we passed unidentified red Pats Coaches tri-axle coach. We came off the A50 at Longton and we went to Z carz to see if there was anything we could see. There was nothing on the spare ground and unusually there was nothing visible at the entrance of the compound on Willow Row either. We ran Westwards along the A50 and we cam of at Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran through Blurton. We continued up to Church Road and we turned right into Beaconsfield Avenue and back home at 19:30. We had already had tea at Nuneaton, so later on as a snack we had the Greggs sausage rolls. We did an e-mail and we wrote some of the Blog. Matthew went to bed around 00:00.... Mark.