Trip to Hanley / Leek 24-12-2019

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67157	Blurton, adj Ladybank Grove	Hanley BS‎	23	First Potteries
38	Hanley BS	Brown Edge, Sytch Road	8B	D&G Bus
65029	Stockton Brook, Moss Hill	Leek BS	18	First Potteries
65030	Leek BS	Hanley BS	18	First Potteries
67152	Hanley BS	Blurton, opp Ladybank Grove	23	First Potteries

Today it was Christmas eve and Matthew was in Blurton getting ready for Christmas tomorrow. We also decided to have a run out on the bus for dinner. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and apple juice for breakfast. Uncle Dave arrived and I popped out to the shops to get some last minute food shopping before Christmas. When I got back Matthew had already got dressed and was getting the rip bag ready! We packed a few emergency snacks and batteries and we set off on foot to the bus stop all the way over on Beaconsfield Drive. We got to the bus stop a little early and we saw First Potteries 67157 heading towards Newstead. We waited for around 15 minutes and we saw First Potteries 63117 on a #22 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 63117 in Blurton

A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching. As expected if was First Potteries 67157 on a #23 to Hanley.

First Potteries 67157 in Blurton

We got on the bus and we booked the Knot ticket at £7 each before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Beaconsfield Drive and we ran to the end we turned left onto Church Road. We ran to Critchlow's Corner and we veered left onto Blurton Road running through Blurton. We crossed the A50 and at Heron Cross lights we went forwards onto Heron Street. We followed the road around onto Station Bridge Road. We turned left at Christchurch Street. We turned left onto City Road and joined the A52 to go under the railway line and over the A500. We continued onto Church Street and into the centre of Stoke where we stopped for a short while. We saw First Potteries 63118 on a #11 to Newcastle. After a brief stop we continued around the one-way system onto Elenora Street and right onto Copeland street. We turned left onto Glebe Street and we went under the railway line before turning left onto Station Road. We went past the railway station and we turned right onto College Road. After running the hill through Shelton we continued onto Cleveland Road and forwards onto Regent Road. We turned left onto Lower Bethesda Street and we crossed over the ring road onto Bethesda Street before we turned right onto John Street. Once in the bus station we saw required First Potteries 65030 on a #18 to Leek. We got up and got off the bus and by the time we got to stand G the #18 had departed. There was a 25 minute wait for the next #18 so we saw required D&G Bus 38 on a #8B to Brown Edge.

D&G 38 in Hanley bus station

We decided to do that instead, so we got on the bus and we flashed The Knot ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. After a brief wait we set off out of the bus station on to John Street. We turned right onto Bethesda Street and we crossed over Broad Street onto Marsh Street. We turned right onto Trinity Street and left onto Stafford Street. We ran forwards onto Quadrant Road and we passed First Potteries 65029 on a #18 to Hanley. At the roundabout we veered left onto Town Road and we crossed over the ring road. We continued out towards Birches Head and we continued onto the A5272. We ran through Sneyd Green up to Smallthorne and we turned right onto Ford Green Road. We ran down Smallthorne Bank and we ran through the traffic lights and up the hill towards Norton. We continued through Norton Green and into Brown edge where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of D&G Bus 38 before it continued towards the end of the run on the #8B.

D&G 38 in Brown Edge

I had worked out that if we did the bus to Brown Edge we could walk though to the A53 and intercept the following #18 to Leek. We set off along the B5051 and we turned right onto Willfield Lane. We turned right onto Ball Lane and left onto Edgefield Lane. We walked along this rural one-way system and forwards onto Moss Hill. We walked down the bank to the main road and when we got to the A53 we turned left to walk to the bus stop. We checked the First Bus app and we had about 2 minutes to wait for the next bus. As it got closer we saw it was required First Potteries 65029 on a #18 to Leek as expected.

First Potteries 65029 in Stockton Brook

We got on the bus and we flashed The Knot ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off Northwards up the A53 and we saw Trinity Court MA08 JFZ. We continued through Endon past The Plough and we got onto the fast section of road. We ran up to Longsdon and Ladderegde and we ran down the hill into the valley. We ran over the old railway line and we went up the hill into the centre of Leek. We turned right onto Leonard Street and left into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 65029 before returning back to Hanley on a #18.

First Potteries 65029 in Leek bus station

Also in the bus station was Aimee's YK07 BFX on a #166 town circular.

Aimee's YK07 BFX in Leek bus station

Also in the bus station was Aimee's KE05 MMF on layover.

Aimee's KE05 MMF in Leek bus station

Whilst we were in the bus station we saw Aimee's YJ11 ELH arrive on the #108 to Ashbourne.

Aimee's YJ11 ELH in Leek bus station

We walked through the bus station onto the A53 and we crossed over the road. We walked around the corner onto Derby Street and we walked through the centre of Leek. We went forwards onto Sheep Market and we turned right onto St Edwards Street. We walked to the opposite corner and we went into the pub. After using the toilet we found a table in a very busy pub and I went to order food and drinks at the bar. For dinner Matthew had a Buttermilk chicken fillet burger and chips washed down with a glass of Coke. For afters Matthew had a slice of chocolate fudge cake with ice cream. Once we had finished eating we set off back towards the bus station. We came out off the pub and we walked Eastwards along the A523. We turned right onto Market Square and we walked across the square onto Derby Street. We walked to the end and we crossed over the A53. We walked through the precinct into the bus station and just as we got there we saw First Potteries 65030 on a #18 to Hanley.

First Potteries 65030 in Leek bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed The Knot ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station onto A523 and we turned left onto the Southbound A53. We ran over the old railway line and past Morrisons and we ran out of the town and up the hill to Ladderedge. We continued onto Longsdon and through the fast section of road down towards Endon where we saw Leek Link LT63 CXN in the petrol station. We ran through Endon into Stocton Brook and we continued into Badderley Green where we passed First Potteries 67661 on a #18 to Leek. We crossed over the old railway line again and we ran up to Sneyd Green where we turned left onto Berwick Road. We turned left onto Milton Road and we ran up the hill. We turned left onto the A5272 and we ran past Central Forrest Park into Birches Head. We ran forwards onto Town Road and we crossed over the ring road. As we ran onto Quadrant Road we passed First Potteries 65031 on the final #18 turn to Leek. We wen forwards onto Stafford Street and we saw First Potteries 65728 on a #3 to Crewe. We ran past the town hall and onto Bagnall Street and we entered the bus station. We let the bus empty out and Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 65030 before we got off.

Inside First Potteries 65030

Once off the bus Matthew visited the toilet before we walked down to stand S to wait for the next bus to Blurton. Whilst we waited for out bus we saw Edwards BX16 CHV on a #528 to Rochdale. A short time later we saw First Potteries 65002 on a #25 to Keele. Eventually our bus approached the stand. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 67152 on a #23 to Newstead.

First Potteries 67152 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed The Knot ticket to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. Before departure time we saw First Potteries 44514 on #3 to Crewe. 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 and we continued onto Station Bridge Road. We ran forwards onto Heron Street and we went through the traffic lights onto Blurton Road. After crossing over the A50 we continued through Blurton. We turned right onto Church Road and right onto Beaconfield Drive. We ran to the other end and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we we crossed over and we saw First Potteries 67153 on a #23 to Hanley.

First Potteries 67153 in Blurton

We walked back to the car and we set off through Blurton. We ran up Beaconsfield Drive and we turned right onto Church Street. We passed First Potteries 63117 on a #22 to Newcastle. We ran through Blurton along Blurton Road abd we joined the Eastbound A50. We came off at Longton to see what was parked up at Z Carz. On Edensor Road we saw Intercity PK57 PWL parked up opposite to Lucky Seven.

Intercity PK57 PWL in Longton

We turned left onto Willow Row and we saw Z Carz Mercedes minibus CE02 LYX parked in the compound.

Z Carz CE02 LYX in Longton

Also seen was Z Carz KE03 JXC in the compound.

Z Carz KE03 JXC in Longton

Another vehicle seen was Z Carz HK57 LFY.

Z Carz HK57 LFY in Longton

We turned around and got back onto the A50 and we turned left onto Heathcote Street, passing D&G Bus 133 on a #40 to Longton. We continued onto Longton Hall Road and 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 16:00. We spent time doing the e-mails and doing the Blog. for tea we had a ham roll and a piece of a sausage roll. Later on we dropped dropped uncle Dave off at his house. We set off through Blurton onto Beaconsfield Drive and we turned left onto Church Road. We ran through Blurton on Blurton Road and into Heron Cross. We dropped down into Fenton and we stopped at uncle Dave's for a few minutes. Matthew added to uncle Dave's calender and ate a Viscount biscuit. Once we finished at uncle Dave's we ran up to Heron Cross and we into Blurton along Blurton Road. We turned right onto The A50 and we joined Stanley Matthews Way. At the Southern end we turned left onto the A5035 and we got home around 19:30. Matthew chilled out on his computer and we composed a few e-mails and sorted a few things out. We then chilled out on the sofa doing e-mails and writing. Later on Matthew had a bath and then chilled out until bedtime around 01:00... Mark