Trip to Leicester / Thurmaston 28-03-2020

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2528	Leicester Haymarket BS	Thurmaston, Asda	6	Arriva Midlands
2938	Thurmaston, Asda	Leicester Haymarket BS	6	Arriva Midlands
28629	Leicester Haymarket BS	Oadby, Opp Waitrose	X7	Stagecoach Midlands
4502	Oadby, Opp Asda	Leicester Haymarket BS	X3	Arriva Midlands
63379	Leicester Haymarket BS	Beaumont Centre, (Stand G)	26	First Leicester
32646	Beaumont Centre, (Stand G)	Leicester Haymarket BS	26	First Leicester

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was going to Leicester. We hope that this bus was going to be First South Yorkshire 63379 which is currently on loan to Leicester. 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 Temple Street Church minibus RX18 GZW.

Temple Street Church RX18 GZW in Fenton

Matthew chilled out in his room before going out. We saw First Potteries 67665 on a #11 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67665 in Fenton

Also seen was First Potteries 67152 on a #23 to Hanley.

First Potteries 67152 in Fenton

When it was time to go out We went downstairs and we got in the car. We set off onto Temple Street and we turned left onto Christchurch Street. We crossed City Road onto Manor Street and we ran to the end where we turned left onto Victoria Road to Joiners Square and we turned left onto Warrington Road. We turned left onto the A52. we ran towards Stoke. We ran forwards onto Glebe Street and we followed the one-way system onto Church Street. We crossed over the A500 and we got onto the Southbound A500. We ran Southwards to Sideway and we got onto the Eastbound A50. We ran Eastwards for around 40 miles and we got onto the Southbound M1. 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 Kinch Bus 649 on a #2 to Loughborough. 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 26225 on a #48 to Coventry. 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 66841 on a #18 to Bruanstone. 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 2528 on a #6 to Thurmaston. 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 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 2938 a #6 to Leicester Haymarket. We got on the bus and we placed the flexi tickets under the scanner. we sat down towards the back of the bus. 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 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 66805 on a #38A to Thurnby Lodge. A few minutes later we saw required Stagecoach Midlands 28629 on a X7 to Market Harborough. 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. We crossed over the road and we noticed a sign to say that Waitrose. 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. we turned right 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 4502 on a X3 to Leicester St Margarets. 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 saw First Leicester 69303 on a #88 to Eyres Monsell. 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 63379 on a #26 to the Beaumont centre. We got on the bus and we placed the flexi tickets under the scanner. 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 turned left onto Abbey Park 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. 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 66965 on a #74 to Leicester. As we waited we spotted First Leicester double decker 32646 on a #26 to Leicester. 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. 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 35182 on a #54 to the Beaumont Centre. 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. As we headed West. As we came through Meir. We came off the A50 at Heron Cross and we turned right onto Blurton Road. We ran through Heron Cross onto Heron Street and we followed the road around onto Station Bridge Road. We turned left onto Christchurch street and left again onto Masterson Street. We turned right onto Watkin Street and right onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. For a late tea Matthew had a chicken burger from KFC. He also had some fries and a cup of Coke. Matthew went up to his room and chilled out on his computer. 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.