Trip to Hanley / Newcastle 11-10-2019

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
47519	Fenton, Victoria Square	Hanley BS	6	First Potteries
67155	Hanley BS	Fenton, Albert Square	23	First Potteries
63171	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Newcastle BS	11	First Potteries
32633	Newcastle BS	Newcastle, opp Cherry Tree	25	First Potteries

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was going to his day service. He was also going to see Grandma later on and going to the pub and returning to Blurton for a long weekend. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Around 09:00 we went downstairs and we set off onto Temple Street. We crossed over Christchurch Street and we went through the alleyway onto the carpark. We walked behind the Co-operative food store and through to the day centre. In the morning we went out on foot to catch the bus to Hanley. We set off onto Baker Street and we saw Shelton Care Group DY08 FFX going towards Heron Cross.

Shelton Care Group DY08 FFX in Fenton

We continued onto Glebedale Road and we crossed over City Road. We walked along Fountain Street and we turned right onto Hitchman Street. We turned right onto Victoria Road and we walked to the bus stop to wait for a bus towards Hanley. After a short while we saw First Potteries 47519 on a #6 to Hanley.

First Potteries 47519 in Fenton

We got on the bus and we booked to Hanley before we sat down. We set off down Victoria Road and we crossed over the A52 at Joiners Square. We ran up Lichfield Street past the site of the new housing development. Instead of going to the bus stops outside the bus station, we turned left onto the ring road. We turned right onto Bethesda Street and right onto John Street and into the bus station. We got off the bus and we set off along Bagnall Street. We continued onto Cheapside and we turned right onto Piccadilly. We walked up Percy Street and we turned left onto Tontine Street. We went in the pub and Matthew had a drink of Coke. After we had finished in the pub we walked along Tontine Street past the new KFC that is under construction. We went across Tontine Square to Primark and afterwards we went into the Intu Potteries shopping centre. We went down to the market and up to the first floor. We came out of the shopping centre and we walked along Parliament Row and visited Poundland. Afterwards we walked along Town Road and we turned right onto Hillchurch Street. We went to the Great Britain Cafe and Matthew had sausage chips and gravy and a can of Coke. When we had finished we walked back down onto Town Road and along Tontine Street. We continued onto Lichfield Street and back to the bus station. We waited for a bus back towards Fenton. A short time later the bus appeared and it was First Potteries 67155 on a #23 to Fenton

First Potteries 67155 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Fenton before we sat down. We set off onto John Street and we turned left onto Bethesda Street. We crossed over the ring road and we ran down onto Regent Road and forwards onto Cleveland Road. We ran down though Shelton along College Road. We turned right onto Avenue Road and left onto Stoke Road. We ran down the hill and we turned left onto Station Road and past the railway station. We turned right onto Glebe Street and under the railway line an we ran around the one-way system in Stoke and stopped by Stoke Minster. We turned left onto Church Street and we crossed the A500 and we ran under the railway line. After climbing up the hill into Fenton we turned right into Christchurch Street where we got up and got off the bus. We then walked back to the day centre. Later on we returned to the residential unit. We set off onto Christchurch Street and left onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. Matthew went up to his room to chill out on his computer and watch buses out of the window. Whilst waiting for me to pick him up we saw Stanton's of Stoke 614 WEH going towards Hanley. I arrived just before 15:00 and Matthew got ready to go to Blurton for a long weekend. When went downstairs and we cut through onto City Road. We walked down to the bus stop outside the flats and we waited for a bus towards Newcastle. A few minutes later we saw First Potteries 63171 on a #11 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 63171 in Fenton

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. We waited for a bus towards the hospital. A short time later we saw First Potteries 32633 on a #25 to Hanley.

First Potteries 32633 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to the Cherry Tree before going upstairs and sitting down. We set off out of the bus station onto Barracks Road and we saw Taxico TXI 7007 heading towards the Jubilee roundabout. We ran Southwards onto the A34 and we got up and got off the bus by the Cherry Tree. We got off the bus and Matthew took a picture of First Potteries 32633 as it continued towards Hanley.

First Potteries 32633 in Newcastle

Once off the bus we headed up the hill towards Grandma's. At Grandma's Matthew had toast and a can of Irn Bru and used her computer. He also had a slice of lemon drizzle cake. When it was time to go we went to the pub in the car via uncle Daves house. We set off just after 17:45 and we set off onto Victoria Street. We turned left onto Legge Street and left onto Occupation Street. We turned right onto Parkstone Avenue and we turned left onto The Avenue. At the end we turned right onto Hartshill Road. We ran down to Stoke and onto the one way system. We turned right onto Elenora Street and we followed the road around onto Copeland Street. We ran forwards onto Glebe Street and we followed the one way system onto Church Street. As we waited at the lights we saw First Potteries 65005 on a #25 to Hanley. We crossed over the A500. We turned right onto the A500 and we veered left into Fenton to pick up uncle Dave. We set off back down towards Stoke and onto the A500. We turned left onto Church Street and and we went around the one-way system. We turned left onto London Road and we headed into the West End, passing First Potteries 67158 on a #21 to Hanley. We ran to the end of London Road and we sat at the light waiting to turn right onto the A34. We saw First Potteries 65003 on a #101 to Hanley. We walked into the pub and Matthew had a brunch with oatcakes followed by toffee sponge pudding with custard. Whilst we ate highlights of the passing buses included First Potteries 63117 on a #22 to Longton, Shearings 741 heading towards Hanford, First Potteries 65706 on a #101 to Hanley and Destination Courtesy Travel DS15 ABX heading Southwards. Once we had finished eating we set off We carried on along the A34 through Hanford and into Trentham. We turned left onto the A5035. We crossed over the railway line and into Blurton. We ran past the site on which they intend to build 126 new houses. We got back around 19:00. Matthew chilled out on his computer and we sorted a few things out. We wrote the Blog and we sent a couple of e-mails. We chilled out on the sofa until bedtime around 00:00... Mark