Trip to Leicester / Oadby 09-11-2019

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2538	Leicester Haymarket BS	Thurmaston, Asda	6	Arriva Midlands
2525	Thurmaston, Asda	Leicester Haymarket BS	6	Arriva Midlands
27685	Leicester Haymarket BS	Oadby, Opp Waitrose	X7	Stagecoach Midlands
4518	Oadby, Opp Asda	Leicester Haymarket BS	X3	Arriva Midlands
63352	Leicester Haymarket BS	Beaumont Centre, (Stand G)	26	First Leicester
32645	Beaumont Centre, (Stand G)	Leicester Haymarket BS	26	First Leicester

Today we had planned on going to Sheffield. Due to the recent bad weather and flooding in the Sheffield area, we decided to go to Leicester instead. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:30 onto the A5035 and we ran through Dresden up to Longton. We joined the Eastbound A50 and we ran through Meir. As we ran the 40 or so miles to the M1 we saw silver minibus PIB 272, grey minibus DA68 ZXX, blue minibus FN55 KTD / FX57 OCW, welfare bus BD11 WSY, 3 unidentified Solus Coaches, an unidentified Drews coach, Birmingham International BJ15 TWD, Stanton's of Stoke 3093 RU and Magnum PF64 RJJ. We ran to the end and we joined the Southbound M1. As we travelled Southwards we saw an unidentified white minibus, Skills YN18 AUP & Parks of Hamilton (NX) LSK 832 (#540). We came off the M1 at junction and we ran the final 8 miles or so into Leicester. On the edge of town we turned left onto Blackbird Road and right onto Ravensbridge Drive. We joined St Margaret's Way and we turned left onto Burleys Way. As we passed the bus station we saw Chalfont BV19 XPR. We turned right onto Abbey Street and left into Gardens Street. We went into the Abbey Street car park and we found a space and parked up. Once we had parked we went down to the ground floor and onto Abbey Street. We turned right onto Belgrave Gate and we crossed over the road. We walked into the bus station and we saw Stagecoach Midlands 26203 on a #48 to Coventry.

Stagecoach Midlands 26203 in Leicester bus station

Once in the bus station we headed to the facilities and Matthew used the toilet. Mum queued up at the food counter by Holland Park Amusements and Matthew took a few bus pictures. We saw First Leicester 69440 on a #18 to Bruanstone.

First Leicester 69440 in Leicester bus station

Also seen was Roberts BU16 UWM on a #303 Birstall Park & Ride service.

Roberts BU16 UWM in Leicester bus station

Once the food was ready we took it in to the bus station and sat down to eat it. Matthew had a bacon and sausage bap washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we looked for a bus to catch. We saw Arriva Midlands 2538 on a #6 to Thurmaston.

Arriva Midlands 2538 in Leicester bus station

We got on the bus and we brought Flexi multi-operator tickets at £5.20 each before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Belgrave Gate and we went under the flyover onto the A607. We ran Northwards along the golden mile which still had most of the lights still in place from Diwali. We ran Northwards for a couple of miles and we turned right onto Humberstone Lane. We turned left onto Silverdale Drive and we followed the road to the right. We turned right onto Church Hill Road and left onto Beacon Avenue. We turned left onto Sandiacre Drive and we followed the road around. We turned right onto Charnwood Avenue and left onto Highway Road. We turned left onto Barkby Thorpe Lane and we got up and got off the bus outside the Thurmaston shopping centre. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 2538 before it returned on a #6 to Leicester.

Arriva Midlands 2538 in Thurmaston

Once off the bus Matthew expressed a wish to visit a toilet. There was a nearby Marks & Spencers foodhall so we visited there. After Matthew had been the toilet we brought some caterpillar sweets which had been reduced as they were for Halloween and a bottle of Coke. After we had paid for the good we returned to the bus stop on the opposite side of the road. The bus does a u-turn at the roundabout and afterwards stops on the opposite side of the road from where we got off. Whilst we waited for the next bus Matthew ate a few of the caterpillars. We saw a bus approaching and we saw it was required Arriva Midlands 2525. The bus did a u-turn at the roundabout and Matthew got a picture of Arriva Midlands 2525 on a #6 to Leicester Haymarket.

Arriva Midlands 2525 in Thurmaston

We got on the bus and we placed the flexi tickets under the scanner. The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 2525 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside Arriva Midlands 2525

We set off along Barkby Thorpe Lane and we turned right onto Highway Road. We turned right onto Charnwood Avenue and we followed it around to the end. We turned left onto Sandiacre Drive and we headed Southwards. At the end of Sandiacre Drive we turned right onto Beacon Avenue. We turned right onto Church Hill Road and left onto Silverdale Drive. We followed the road Southwards and we turned right onto Humberstone Lane. We turned left onto the A607 and we headed Southwards through the Golden Mile. We passed the big whell and we ran into the centre of Leicester. We crossed over the roundabout under the flyover and we ran down Belgrave Gate and into the bus station. Once we got off the bus we had a walk around and we looked to see what else we might catch. We saw First Leicester 63106, a recent arrival from Manchester on a #38A to Thurnby Lodge.

First Leicester 63106 in Leicester bus station

A few minutes later we saw required Stagecoach Midlands 27685 on a X7 to Market Harborough.

Stagecoach Midlands 27685 in Leicester bus station

We decided to do this bus so we got on the bus and we placed the Flexi day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and we turned sharp right onto Charles Street and we headed South Eastwards. We joined the Southbound A594 and we went past the railway station on the the A6. AS we travelled down the A6 out of town for a further 2 1/2 miles and the bus stopped on the A6 opposite to Waitrose. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Midlands 27685 before it continued South on the towards Milton Keynes.

Stagecoach Midlands 27685 in Oadby

We crossed over the road and we noticed a sign to say that Waitrose had closed permanently on November 3rd. We looked at the bus stop and the next X3 wasn't due for another 25 minutes. We decided to walk into Oadby to see if we could possibly catch another bus. As we walked away from the stop we saw Centrebus 315 on a #40 circular service. We walked down the B582 and we turned right onto The Parade. Due to an event for the switching on of the towns lights. The Parade was closed to all traffic the buses divert down Wigston Road and Brabazon Road. We continued along The Parade through the festivities and we stopped at the Post Office. Matthew had a can of Coke and a couple of chocolate bars. When we had paid foe everything we continued along the Parade until we reached the A6. Ww decided to wait for the X3 which was now due in a few minutes time we looked on the bustime.org live bus map and we could see a bus approaching. The bus appeared a few minutes and as expected it was Arriva Midlands 4518 on a X3 to Leicester St Margarets.

Arriva Midlands 4518 in Oadby

We got on the bus and we placed Flexi multi-operator tickets under the scanner before we went upstairs. we set off Northwards up the A6. We ran through the leafy suburbs of Leicester and we ran past the railway station. We ran forwards onto Charles street. We stopped in the street outside the Haymarket Bus Station and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walked into the bus station and we met up with mum. We told her we were doing one more quick round trip. We spotted required First Leicester 63352 on a #26 to the Beaumont centre.

First Leicester 63352 in Leicester bus station

We got on the bus and we placed the flexi tickets under the scanner. The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside First Leicester 63352 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside First Leicester 63352

We set off out of the bus station onto Belgrave Gate and we went under the flyover onto the A607. We turned left onto Abbey Park Road we saw Sihota Coaches FJ06 ZKV parked at the side of the road. We ran forwards on to Blackbird we turned right onto Parker Drive. We turned left onto Somerset Drive and we headed Westwards. We turned left onto Cheltenham Road and left onto Heacham Drive. After a long run through the estate we ran forwards onto Strasbourg Drive. We crossed the A563 and we ran forwards onto Orwell Drive. At the roundabout we turned right onto Rutherford Rood an we stopped at the Beaumont Centre where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Leicester 63352 before it returned to Leicester on the #26.

First Leicester 63352 in Beaumont Centre

Once off the bus we walked to the local pub. Matthew used the toilet and afterwards had a glass of Coke. When we had finished we went outside to meet up with uncle Dave. Matthew expressed a wish to catch a #25 back to Leicester. Whilst we waited we saw First Leicester 66962 on a #74 to Leicester.

First Leicester 66962 in Beaumont Centre

As we waited we spotted First Leicester double decker 32645 on a #26 to Leicester.

First Leicester 32645 in Beaumont Centre

We decided to do the double decker so we legged it over to the other stop. We got on the bus and we flashed the Flexi Day tickets to the driver for the final time today before going upstairs. The bus set off along Rutherford Road and we turned left onto Beaumont Way. At the roundabout we turned right onto Benion Road. We turned left onto Astill Lodge Road and we ran through the Beaumont estate. We re-joined Benion Road and we turned right onto Knights Road. We turned left onto Madeline Road and we ran past the back of the Walkers Crisps factory. We turned right onto Beaumont Leys Road and we ran Southwards. We turned left onto Belmont Boulevards and left onto Holderness Road. We ran forwards onto Border Drive and we turned left onto Red Hill Way. At the roundabout we turned right onto Halifax Road and we turned left onto Thurcaston Road. We crossed over the A6 and we continued along Thurcaston Road. We ran into Belgrave and we stopped at the lights. The bus in front of us was now empty so Matthew took a picture inside First Leicester 32645.

Inside First Leicester 32645

We turned right onto Loughborough Road and we headed Southward towards the Golden Mile. We turned right onto the A607 and we headed into the city centre. At the roundabout we went under the flyover and forwards onto Belgrave Gate. We entered the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew went to the toilet. Afterwards we took few more pictures before we returned to the car. We saw First Leicester 35184 on a #54 to the Beaumont Centre.

First Leicester 35184 in Leicester bus station

We walked through the bus station towards Belgrave Gate. At the North end we saw Arriva Midlands 3765 on a #14 to New Parks.

Arriva Midlands 3765 in Leicester

We crossed over Belgrave Gate and we crossed over Abbey Street. We went into the entrance of the car park and we paid for the parking. We got the lift up to the appropriate floor and we got in the car. Mum had brought sausage rolls and Matthew had a bottle of Irn Bru. We set off out of the bus station onto Garden Street and we turned right onto Abbey Street. We turned left onto Burley Way and we turned right onto St Margaret's Way. We turned left onto Ravensbridge Drive and we turned left onto Blackbird Road. We turned right onto the A50 and we ran out of the city. We crossed the A46 and we continued Northwards towards the motorway. We joined the Northbound M1 at junction 22 and we travelled up to junction 23A. We came off onto the Westbound A50 and we travelled back through the darkness. As we headed West we saw an Afford rent-a-car YO19 AZC, 3 unidentified Solus Coaches, 2 unidentified Silverdale coaches, blue minibus FL04 WXJ. As we came through Meir we saw Copeland's Tours MIB 797 at the depot. We came off the A50 and Longton and we went to the Z Carz depot. We passed the Lucky Seven depot and we saw Lucky Seven SJ16 EOV. We turned left onto Willow Row and we saw Z Carz Volkswagen minibus LJ07 PXW.

Z Carz LJ07 PXW in Longton

We turned around and got back onto the A50 and we went Westwards to Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran through Blurton. We ran forwards onto Church Street and we turned right into Beaconsfield Drive. We got home around 19:06. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a slice of lemon meringue pie. We spent time doing the e-mails and doing the Blog. We chilled out on the computer and watching telly until 01:00... Mark.