Trip to Hanley / Leek 22-02-2020

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67158	Fenton, adj Royal Oak	Hanley BS	23	First Potteries
65029	Hanley BS	Leek BS	18	First Potteries
65031	Leek BS	Hanley BS	18	First Potteries
32648	Hanley BS	Blythe Bridge, Old Bill's Garage	6A	First Potteries

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was going to his day service. He was also going to Leek later on. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast for breakfast. before Matthew went to the day centre he watched buses out of the window. whilst waiting for the time to go to the day centre, we saw First Potteries 63171 on a #11 to Newcastle. we went downstairs and we set off onto Temple Street. In the distance we saw Temple Street church minibus RX18 GZW. We carried on along Temple Street and we turned left onto Christchurch Street. We waited for a bus towards Hanley. After a short wait we saw First Potteries 67158 on a #23 to Hanley.

First Potteries 67158 in Fenton

We got on the bus and we brought The Knot ticket to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Christchurch Street. We turned left onto City Road. and we joined the A52 to go under the railway line and over the A500. We continued onto Church Street and into the centre of Stoke. 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 past Swift House which is being demolished for a new build near Stoke railway station. We continued along Glebe Street and we went under the railway line before turning left onto Station Road. We went past the railway station and and turned right. We ran up Stoke Road and we turned right onto Avenue Road. At the roundabout we turned left 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 where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we waited for a bus to Leek. A short time later we saw First Potteries 65029 on a #18 to Leek.

First Potteries 65029 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed The Knot ticket to the driver before we sat down. We set off out of the bus station onto john Street and we ran down the hill to Bethesda Street. We ran past the museum and we ran forwards onto Marsh Street. We turned right onto Trinity street and at the top of the hill we turned left onto Stafford Street. We ran forwards onto Quadrant Road and we went across the ring road along Town Road. We ran forwards onto the A5272 and into Sneyd Green. We turned right onto Milton Road and we ran down the hill before turning left onto Berwick Road. At the end of the road we turned right onto the A53. We ran North through Badderley Green where we saw First Potteries 65005 on #18 to Hanley. into Stockton Brook. We continued into Endon and then we ran out into open countryside. We climbed the hill into Longsdon and we ran down Ladderedge into the Churnet Valley. We ran up the hill into the town centre and we turned right into Leonard Street. We turned into the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. In the bus station we saw D&G Bus 145 on a #16 to Leek Haregate.

D&G 145 in Leek bus station

Once we were in Leek we walked through the shopping centre onto the A53. We turned the corner onto Derby Street and we walked to the other end. We were looking for somewhere suitable for dinner. We turned left onto St Edwards Street. We turned left onto the A53 and we complete a circle of the block! We turned left onto Derby Street again and we walked across the Market Square. We turned left onto the A523 and we crossed over St Edwards Street. We went to the pub and we had dinner. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards Matthew had a chicken burger and chips washed down with a glass of Coke. For afters Matthew had chocolate fudge cake and ice cream. When we had finished we set off down St Edwards Street and we turned left onto Stanley Street. We turned right onto Russel Street and we turned left onto the A53. We turned right onto Leonard Street and into the bus station. Whilst we waited for our bus we saw D&G Bus 116 on a #16 to Haregate.

D&G 116 in Leek bus station

A short time later we saw First Potteries 65031 on a #18 to Hanley.

First Potteries 65031 in Leek bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed The Knot ticket to the driver before we sat down. We set off out of the bus station onto the A523 and we turned left onto the A53. We ran down the hill towards the bottom of town and we passed the site of the new McDonalds. We ran down the hill out of town and own into the Churnet Valley before running up the hill through Ladderedge. We ran down the other side into Longsdon and we ran through open countryside for a mile or 2 before going into Endon. We ran down through Stockton Brook into Badderley Green. We continued South to Sneyd Green and we turned left into Berwick Road. We turned right onto Milton Road and we ran up the hill to the A5272 where we saw Scraggs 5805 VT. We turned left and we headed into Hanley. We entered town along Quadrant Road and we ran along Stafford Street and past the town hall into Bagnall Street. We ran into the bus station and we got up and got of the bus. Once off the bus we waited for a bus to Blythe Bridge. A short time later we saw First Potteries 32648 on a #6A to Blythe Bridge.

First Potteries 32648 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 went upstairs and sat down. We set off out of the bus station onto John Street and we turned left onto Bethesda Street. We turned left onto the ring road and we turned right onto Lichfield Street and we ran down the hill to Joiners Square. We crossed the roundabout onto Victoria Road. We continued onto City Road and forwards onto King street we saw D&G Bus 115. We ran through Foley and under the railway line into Longton town centre. The bus stopped on Market Street and then we continued onto Uttoxeter Road. We ran through Normacot and then we joined the A50. We ran fast up to Meir and then we came off the A50 onto Broadway. At the roundabout we turned right onto the A520 and we headed up the hill to Rough Close and we turned left onto Grindley Lane. We turned left onto Whitestone Road and then left onto Lysander Road. We ran around the Meir Park and we crossed over the A50 onto the A521. We ran into Blythe Bridge and we crossed over the railway line. We continued into the town centre and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we waited for someone to come and pick us up. We got in the car and we set off along Uttoxeter Road. We turned right onto the A521 and we ran forwards onto the Westbound A50. We ran through Meir into Longton. We came off the A50 at Heron Cross and we turned right onto the A50 link road. We turned left onto King Street and we ran forwards onto City Road. We turned left onto Smithpool Road and left onto Temple Street and past the new sheltered housing complex that is nearing completion and opening soon. We went upstairs and Matthew went to his room to chill out. Later on Matthew went out to KFC. Matthew went downstairs and we set off onto Temple Street. We turned left onto Christchurch Street and right onto City Road. We walked past Philpots and at the roundabout we turned right into KFC. Matthew had a chickenburger and fries washed down with a cup of Coke. Once we had finished eating we walked back along City Road and back to the residential unit. Matthew went upstairs to chill out in his room. He watched television and used his computer. Matthew had a can of Fanta orange. 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.