Trip to Hanley / Crewe 24-07-2021

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
65029	Fenton, adj Royal Oak	Stoke, Adj stop Q	23	First Potteries
63171	Stoke, Stop N	Hanley BS	25	First Potteries
63113	Hanley BS	Crewe BS	3	First Potteries
2534	Crewe BS	Winsford, Asda	31	Arriva NW&W
2491	Winsford, Siddon Street	Crewe BS	31	Arriva NW&W
2933	Crewe BS	Congleton BS	38	Arriva NW&W
2931	Congleton BS	Crewe BS	38	Arriva NW&W

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was going to stay fairly local. In light of the weather forecast it was perhaps a good idea. We didn't do any research for the trip other than to check the weather. 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. Later on 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. The bus appeared and it was First Potteries 65029 on a #23 to Hanley. We got on the bus and we booked to Stoke before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Christchurch Street. We turned left onto City Road. down under the railway line and into Stoke. We got up and got off the bus and we went around the corner into Church Street to Stoke Cafe. Uncle Dave escorted Matthew downstairs to the toilet and I ordered the food. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. After we had finished eating we walked down Church Street. A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 63171 on a #25 to Hanley. We got on the bus and we flashed the Network Day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Church Street 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 went past the railway station ans 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. We turned right onto John Street and we saw First Potteries 69155 on a #7A to Biddulph. We entered the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. We walked down to the stand for the Crewe bus and we waited for the next one. A few minutes later the bus appeared and it was First Potteries 63113 on a #3 to Crewe. We got on the bus and we flashed the First Day ticket to the driver before we sat down near to the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and onto John Street. We turned right onto Bethesda Street and we went straight across onto Marsh Street. We turned right up onto Trinity Street and we went past the former RBS now a new shop. We turned left onto Stafford Street. After picking up more passenger outside of Debenhams we followed the road around to the left and then back onto marsh Street. At the roundabout we went straight on onto Waterloo Road and we ran up the hill into Cobridge. We continued into Burslem and through the traffic lights onto Scotia Road. We went past the old Burslem PMT garage and we followed the road around to the left onto Williamson Street. At the corner we turned right onto Tunstall High Street We saw First Potteries 63034 on a #3 to Hanley. We continued North onto the A50 and we passed the site of the new Costa Coffee being built. We ran through Goldenhill and down the bank into Kidsgrove. We ran under the railway line and we past Lidl. We into Cheshire and we crossed over the A34. We continued into Church Lawton and then into Alsager. We continued Westwards along the B5077 under the M6 and into Radway Green. We followed the road to the right up Slaughter hill and we continued straight up into Haslington. We turned left onto Crewe Road and we re-joined the B5077 towards Crewe Green. We crossed over the roundabout onto the Westbound A534 and we ran towards Crewe railway station. We past the railway station where we saw an unidentified Majestic coach. We continued for around 1/2 mile before turning right into Edlestone Road. We ran into town crossing over the railway line and forwards onto Chester Bridge. We followed the road around onto Delamere Street and we turned right into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 63113 as it continued towards Hanley.

First Potteries 63113 in Crewe bus station

Once off the bus we saw Arriva NW&W 4699 on layover. We whilst we waited for a bus to Winsford. A few minutes later we saw Arriva NW&W 2534 on a #31 to Northwich. We got on the bus and we flashed Arriva Day Saver tickets at £5.50 each driver before we sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station. We turned onto West Street we turned North onto Underwood Lane. We turned left onto the B5076 and then we turned Northwards again onto Mablins Lane. We turned left onto Parkers Road before rejoining the B5076. We crossed a roundabout and then we took the next left into Leighton Hospital grounds. At the hospital there was a small bus station. We left the bus station area and we crossed the A530 at Bradfield Green before we continues up to Church Minshull crossing the Shropshire Union canal and the river Weaver. We continued North through the centre of Cheshire, Darnhall. We came into town along Beeston drive and we stopped opposite the shopping centre outside Witherspoons where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we set off around the corner and into the pub. Matthew visited the toilet and afterwards he had a glass of Coke. When we had finished we went outside and met up with uncle Dave. We walked down Dene Drive and we turned right onto the A54. There were a few buses parked up there. On bus pulled off before we got there but the other we saw Arriva NW&W 3161 which was about to work a X29 to Northwich. Across the road. So we crossed under the road in the subway and we came out and we saw dud Arriva NW&W 2491 on a #31 to Crewe. We decided to do the bus anyway so we got on and we flashed the Arriva North West Day Saver tickets to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off the A54 before turning left into the housing estate and heading back South through Darnhall. Somewhere between Darnall and Church Minshull. We passed through Church Minshull and just before we crossed the A530. At the hospital there was a small bus station and we the B5076 and Underwood Lane and West Street. We passed the Fung Lung Chinese takeaway, which I always thought sounded like some kind of medical condition and we turned onto Hightown to run into the bus station. when we got back into the bus station we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus and we saw a few buses parked up on layover. Opposite was Arriva NW&W 4407 parked up. After a short while we saw Arriva NW&W 2933 on a #38 to Macclesfield. We got on the bus and we booked Arriva Arriva Day Saver before The bus set off out of the bus station and we turned left onto Delamere Street. We followed the road around to the right onto Chester Bridge and we crossed the railway line and onto Edleston Road. At the end of the long straight road we turned left onto the A534 and we ran past the railway station ans past B&Q. We traveled Eastwards along Crewe Road. We went through Haslington and Winterley and further North through Wheelock Heath. We crossed the A534 and we ran through Wheelock. We ran over the canal and into Sandbach town center past Sandbach School. When we got to the Common onto Congleton Road. We joined the A534 and past the site of the new development by the M6. We continued along the A534 and we crossed over the M6 and into Arclid. We carried on through Medhurst Green and we crossed over the Wall Hill roundabouts. On the edge of Congleton we joined the A34 and we ran East along the road for a short while before going onto West Street. We entered town along Antrobus Street, Mill Street and Mountbatten Way. We turned right into Market Street, past the Bear Grills cafe and into the bus station. We got off the bus. We walked up to the top end of the bus station and Matthew visited the toilet. Afterwards we continued up Market Street and we turned right on to Bridge Street. We stopped at Costa Coffee. Matthew had a piece of millionaire's shortbread and a bottle of Coke. We walked along Bridge Street and left onto Market Street and back to the bus station. We sat in one of the bus stops and Matthew ate a couple of fun sized Milky Way bars. A short time later we saw the bus approaching. As expected it was Arriva NW&W 2931 on a #38 to Crewe. We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva NW&W Day Saver ticket to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and onto market Street and we ran down the hill onto Mountbatten Way. We turned left onto Mill Street and we climbed the hill, turning right onto West Street. At the roundabout we went straight onto the A34 and at the following junction we went straight ahead onto the A534. We went out of town through West Heath and then out into open countryside. We crossed the A50 at the Arclid crossroads. On the west side of the M6 we left the A534 and turned right onto Congleton Road and we ran into Sandbach Common where we saw Arriva NW&W 4408 on a #37A to Northwich. After a brief stop we continued on our journey. After a brief stop we went Westwards out of the town onto Crewe Road and through Wheelock. We crossed the A534 and we ran through Wheelock Heath and Winterly, passed the pond. We continued into Haslington and turned left onto Crewe Road and we re-joined the B5077 towards Crewe Green. We crossed over the roundabout onto the Westbound A534 and we ran towards Crewe railway station. We past the railway station and we continued for around 1/2 mile before turning right into Edleston Road. We entered Crewe town centre and we followed the road around onto Delamere Street. When we got into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walked onto Victoria Street. We headed back to the car and we met up with mum who had left her car keys back at home. She was waiting with sausage rols and a bottle of Irn Bru for Matthew. We got in the car and we set off onto the Eastbound A532 and we turned right onto Vernon Way. We turned left onto Earle Street and we continued onto Manchester Bridge. We turned right onto Macon Way and we we crossed over the roundabout onto Weston Road. We turned right onto David Whitby Way and left onto the A500. We ran under the M6 and as we continued South we came to an incident on the road and the road narrowed to a single lane. We passed the broken down vehicle and we passed Bullocks RB11 BUL, Alfa 72, Terry Bushell A13 TBT, and unidentified National Express liveried coach (#540), MT Travel HK58 ECV, an unidentified white minibus and an unidentified grey coach as we travelled Southwards. We turned left onto City Road. 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. Matthew went upstairs to his roon to watch TV and chill out. Matthew went up to his room to use his computer and watch buses. For tea Matthew had a chicken burger from kfc. He also had some fries and a cup of Coke followed by a jam filled sponge. Later on we saw First Potteries 44514 on a #23 to Hanley.

First Potteries 44514 in Fenton

A few minutes later we saw First Potteries 69162 on a #11 to Hanley.

First Potteries 69162 in Fenton

Matthew used his computer and watched music videos on the television. When it was time to go to we went downstairs and and we got in the car. We set off onto Temple Street and at the end we turned left onto Smithpool Road and we turned right onto Whieldon Road and into uncle Dave's. Later on he had a few digestive biscuits and and some Irn Bru. Uncle Dave now has a biscuit tin. Matthew chilled out in uncle Dave's house using his computer and watching television. Uncle Dave also did his DJ set. A couple of hours later staff came to escort Matthew back home. We set off onto Whieldon Road and we turned left onto Smithpool Road. We turned right onto Temple Street past the new building under construction, which is now getting near to completion. We continued back to the residential unit. Matthew went back to the room and went 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.