Trip to Newcastle / Hanley 14-02-2020

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
63171	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Newcastle BS	11	First Potteries
32633	Newcastle BS	Hanley BS	25	First Potteries
67151	Hanley BS	Fenton, Smithpool Road	23	First Potteries
63177	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Newcastle BS	11	First Potteries
63173	Newcastle BS	Newcastle, Adj Cherry Tree	22	First Potteries

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was going to his day service. Matthew looked at a Valentines Day party at the residential unit and back to Blurton on a #23. He was also going to see Grandma later on and going to a Valentines Day party and returning to Blurton for a long weekend. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Matthew watched buses from the window whilst he was getting ready to go out and we saw First Potteries 67157 on a #23 to Hanley. We went downstairs and we set off onto City Road. We walked to the stop outside the flats and we waited for a bus to Newcastle. A short time 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. Once off the bus we set off up Castle Walk. We stopped at Poundland and Card Factory. We continued up Castle Walk and we turned left onto Ironmarket. We turned left onto High Street past the former RBS bank which is currently being worked on to become a new dessert shop. We walked back along Ironmarket and we stopped at a pub. For dinner Matthew had fish, chips and beans washed down with a glass of Coke. When we had finished we walked along Ironmarket and we turned right onto Castle Walk and back to the bus station. We waited for a bus towards Hanley. 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 Hanley before we went upstairs. When it was time to go the bus set off out of the bus station and onto Barracks Road. We turned left at the roundabout onto the A34. we ran South as far as the hospital where we turned left. As we travelled through the hospital. We came out of the hospital and turned left onto Hilton Road. We ran into Hartshill and we turned right onto the A52. We ran down the hill into Stoke town centre and along Church Street. After a brief stop we continued along the A52, over the A500 and under the railway line. We followed the A52 to the left and we ran alongside the railway and onto Station Road. We passed the railway station and we turned right onto Stoke Road and we turned right onto Avenue Road. At the roundabout we turned left onto College Road. We ran up the hill through Shelton and we followed the road to the right onto Cleveland Road and Regent Road. We turned left onto Lower Bethesda Street and we crossed over the ring road, continuing onto Bethesda Street. We turned right onto John Street and into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we waited for a bus back to Fenton. A short time later we saw First Potteries 67152 on a #23 to Newstead.

First Potteries 67152 in Hanley bus station

Whilst we waited for the bus to be readied for service we saw First Potteries 67656 on a #4 to Audley.

First Potteries 67656 in Hanley bus station

A short time later we saw First Potteries 67151 on a #23 to Newstead.

First Potteries 67151 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 residential unit. Matthew went upstairs to his room to chill out and watch buses out of the window. we saw white minibus BT69 UAN going towards Longton. A short time later I cam to take Matthew to Grandma's so he could wish her happy birthday. We went downstairs and we cut through onto City Road and we waited for a bus towards Newcastle. Whilst we waited we saw First Potteries 65038 running out of service towards Stoke.

First Potteries 65038 in Fenton

A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 63177 on a #11 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 63177 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 and in the petrol station we saw an unidentified new ABC Supreme minibus HK69 ???. 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 got in the bus station and there was already a bus we could catch in the bus station. We saw First Potteries 63173 on a #22 to Longton.

First Potteries 63173 in Newcastle bus station

Also in the bus station was D&G Bus 114 on a #1 to Meir.

D&G 114 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to The Cherry Tree before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Barracks Road. We ran Southwards onto the A34 and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 63173 as it continued towards Longton.

First Potteries 63173 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 birthday cake. When it was time to go we went to the residential unit for a Valentines Day party. 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. We crossed over the A500 onto City Road and we went under the railway line. We ran up the hill into Fenton and we turned right onto Smithpool Road. We turned left onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. We went upstairs and Matthew went to his room to wait until it was time for the party. I said goodbye and Matthew chilled in his room. Later on Matthew went downstairs for the party. He ate sausage roll & pizza washed down with a cup of Coke. Afterwards he had a slice of Chocolate Cake. After the party I came to pick Matthew up and he came downstairs to the gate to meet me. We got in the car and uncle Dave was also there. We set off onto Temple Street and we saw YMCA DK18 AEG parked up neat to Temple Street Church. We turned right onto Christchurch Street. At the end we turned right onto Station Bridge Road and we crossed over the railway line. We ran forwards Heron Street and we went through Heron Cross and over the A50. We ran into Blurton along Blurton Road and we veered right onto Church Street. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive and we got back to Blurton around 20:10. 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 01:00... Mark