Trip to Widnes / Runcorn 07-08-2021

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
5018	Widnes, Green Oaks	Runcorn BS	61	Arriva NW&W
2699	Runcorn BS	Halton Lea North	110	Arriva NW&W
5003	Halton Lea South	Runcorn BS	82A	Arriva NW&W
2668	Runcorn BS	Halton Lea, Hospital	3C	Arriva NW&W
3023	Halton Lea South	Runcorn BS	110	Arriva NW&W
EX21 ONE	Runcorn BS	Halton Lea, Hospital	X1	MP Travel
2583	Halton Lea, Hospital	Halton Lea South	1	Arriva NW&W
3138	Halton Lea South	Widnes, Green Oaks	79C	Arriva NW&W

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was going to Widnes. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast for breakfast. before Matthew went to Widnes he watched buses out of the window. whilst waiting for the time to go to Widnes, we saw Afford rent-a-car MX70 CJF. Around 12:05 we came to pick Matthew up. After getting ready we went downstairs to the car. We set off onto Temple Street and we turned left onto Smithpool Road. We turned right onto Wheildon Road and we ran down the hill and picked up uncle Dave. under the railway line towards Stoke and we joined the A500. As we travelled Northwards up the A500 we saw blue minibus MX07 NDU and West Midlands Ambulance Service YJ19 HFL. The A500 was quite bus as far as Longport and afterwards it eased off a little. We ran into Cheshire and we joined the Northbound M6 at junction 16. As we went up the M6 we saw red minibus RX70 AVP, white minibus VA12 CFO / H3 HET, Selwyn's 333(#333), an unidentifled RK Travel minibus, silver minibus SA15 CFJ. Parks of Hamilton KSK 950 and Routemaster4Hire RM765. We ran past junction 17 and the site of the new petrol station and McDonalds. We passed Knutsford services and we saw white minibus reg like Y811 GFS on a low load. We continued Northwards up the M6 and we saw Parks of Hamilton KSK 950 and Routemaster4Hire RM765. We left the M6 at junction 21A and we went Westwards along the M62 to junction 7. We went Southwards down the A557 and we turned right to run up to Green Oaks Way. We past the entrance to the bus station and we turn ed left into the car park. We parked up and we set off over the bus station towards the market. On the way we saw required Ashcroft's Travel HIG 5674 on a #27 to West Bank.

Ashcroft's Travel HIG 5674 in Widnes

We headed into the market and Matthew used the toilet. We had dinner at the nearby Widnes market Cafe. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a bottle of Coke. When we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we walked towards the exit near to the bus station. We stopped on the way at a sweet stall and Matthew had a few eggs and a couple of jelly snakes. We asked which buses Matthew wanted to do and he chose Arriva. We decided to head over the river first so we stood on the North side of the bus station. Whilst we waited we saw Arriva NW&W 5018 on a #61 to Palacefields.

Arriva NW&W 5018 in Widnes

We got on the bus and we brought Flexi Day tickets at £5.50 each before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off onto Green Oaks Way and we turned right onto Gerrards Street. We ran forwards onto Milton Road and we turned left onto the B5419. We went near to the site where are currently developing a new leisure centre on Moor Lane. We went through the old town and across the roundabout onto Victoria Road. We turned right onto Hutchinson Road and we joined the the A533. We crossed over the Jubilee Bridge. We crossed the bridge into Runcorn and we wheeled around onto Station Road and into the old town. We crossed over the canal and past 'The Archers' pub and onto the High Street. We turned into the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 5018 before it carried on towards Palacefields.

Arriva NW&W 5018 in Runcorn bus station

We decided to catch the next Arriva bus towards Halton Lea. Whilst we waited we saw MP Travel MP20 BUS on a X1 to Halton Hospital.

MP Travel MP20 BUS in Runcorn bus station

On the other side of the bus station we saw MP Travel EX21 ONE on a X1 to Murdishaw.

MP Travel EX21 ONE in Runcorn bus station

A few minutes later we saw dud Arriva NW&W 2699 on a #110 to Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 2699 in Runcorn bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Flexi Day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and onto Church Street. We ran forwards onto Leiria Way and at the first roundabout we ran forwards onto the busway. We ran the industrial areas around Astmoor and under the Mersey Gateway bridge. We joined Castlefield Avenue East and we got onto the busway at the corner of Tyrrel Way by the McColls Store. We ran through the Castlefields area and we stopped at the library side of the Halton Lea shopping centre where we got up and got off the bus. After taking a few bus pictures we set off to go into the shopping centre. There was an old lady who was struggling to get to the shopping centre due to there being an elevated walkway and her being quite afraid of heights. I helped her to the lift and I also guided he out of the lift into the shopping centre after I had walked down the stairs. We walked through the shopping centre and we went to the toilets. After we had used the toilets we headed over to the South side of the shopping centre where the Runcorn bound buses stop. A few minutes later we saw required Stagecoach Merseyside 26062 on a #2 to Chester.

Stagecoach Merseyside 26062 in Halton Lea

A short time later we saw Network Warrington 94 on a #62 to Warrington.

Network Warrington 94 in Halton Lea

A short time later we saw Arriva NW&W 5003 on a #82 Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 5003 in Halton Lea

We got on the bus and we flashed the Flexi Day tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus stattion onto busway Westwards. We stopped on the Southside of the Halton Lea shopping centre. We carried on West onto Grangeway. At the end we ran forwards onto Linkway and right onto Laburnum Grove. We turned right onto Windsor Grove and we followed the road around. We ran North up Norleane Crescent and we turned left onto Heath Road. We then did a loop around Langdale Road and Ivy Street before we rejoined Heath Road, this time going Northwards. We continued up the B5155 and we followed the road to the left over the canal. We then travelled via Lena Way into the town centre and into the bus station. We got off the bus and we crossed over to the other side to catch something back West. A few minutes later we saw Ashcroft's Travel Solo HIG 5671 on the #52 Beechwood Circular service.

Ashcroft's Travel HIG 5671 in Runcorn bus station

The Solo went on layover for a short while. A few minutes later we saw required Arriva NW&W 2642 on a #79C to Liverpool. A few minutes later we saw dud Arriva NW&W 2668 on a #3C to Halton Lea hospital.

Arriva NW&W 2668 in Runcorn bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed Flexi Day tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and we turned right and up the hill. We crossed the canal and we went under the A533. We turned left into Boston Avenue and we ran Eastwards. We turned left into Halton Brook Avenue and then we turned right into Halton Brook Avenue. We went forwards off Halton Brook Avenue on to Brackendale and after crossing over the B5155 onto Halton Lodge Avenue we turned left onto the busway. With Runcorn being radically different, there are three types of Roads. We ran under the A533 central expressway and into the Halton Lea shopping centre. The Eastbound busway calls at the library on an elevated road. After a brief stop we continued to the hospital where the bus terminated. We got off the bus and Matthew then took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2668 before it ran up to the turning circle.

Arriva NW&W 2668 in Halton Lea

We crossed over the busway and we waited for a bus back to Runcorn. We saw required Stagecoach Merseyside 27777 on a the #2 to to Chester. and we few minutes later we saw another Arriva bus approaching, As it got closer we saw that it was required Arriva NW&W 3023 on the #110 to Warrington.

Arriva NW&W 3023 in Halton Lea

We got on the bus and we flashed the Flexi Day tickets to the driver. We sat down towards the back of the bus and the bus set off along the busway, and we went around an Asda store and North under the Halton Link Road. The busway was on a sweeping curve to the right and we went through the middle of the Castlefields area. After around 3/4 of a mile we left the busway and went forwards on Tyrell Way. We followed the road around to the left and we turned left onto Castlefields Avenue East. We crossed over the A558 Daresbury Expressway and we then turned left onto another busway. We ran Westwards through the Astmoor area of town. The busway crossed over road every couple of hundred yards and there were traffic lights which usually turned to green and we approached them. We also passed under the Southern end of the Mersey Gateway bridge. We went under the B5155 adjacent to the canal and we turned right at a roundabout off the busway onto Lieria Way with the town centre in sight. We ran down the hill and we turned left into the bus station. Once we got to the station we got up and got off the bus. On the other side of the bus station we saw Arriva NW&W 3138 on a #79C to Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 3138 in Runcorn bus station

Matthew used the toilet and afterwards he had a glass of Coke. Once he had finished his drink we re-joined uncle Dave who waited outside and we went back up to the bus station. We decided to go to Murdishaw and back to Widnes. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. It was required MP Travel EX21 ONE on a X1 to Halton Hospital. We got on and flashed the Flexi Day tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off Westwards and we crossed under the A557 and Southwards down Greenway Road. We turned left onto Moughland lane and we continued forwards onto Clifton Road. We turned left onto one of the busways and we ran under the A533 before stopping outside the library. We continued up to Halton Lea Hospital. The bus emptied out in front of us and we encourage Matthew to take a picture inside MP Travel EX21 ONE.

Inside MP Travel EX21 ONE

When we got to the hospital we got up and got off the bus. Directly behind us was Arriva NW&W 5008 which had come a different route and had now caught back up with us. We crossed the road and we decided to walk up to the turning circle to get pictures as there were buses parked up there. We walked up the path and we saw MP Travel EX21 ONE on a X1 to Murdishaw.

MP Travel EX21 ONE in Halton Lea

Once we had looked at the buses at the turning circle we walked back to the Westbound side of the road. We deciced to do the next C79 towards Widnes and we saw Arriva NW&W 2583 on a #1 Halton Lea circular. We got on the bus and we flashed the Flexi Day tickets to the driver before sitting down towards the rear of the bus. We set off along the busway towards the Halton Lea shopping centre that were very run down and the we circle around onto the Southway and into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2583.

Arriva NW&W 2583 in Halton Lea

a few minutes later we saw another Arriva bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was required Arriva NW&W 3136 on a #110 to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 3136 in Halton Lea

We got on the bus and we flashed the Flexi Day tickets to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus We sat down towards the back of the bus and we set off along the Busway. We carried on West onto Grangeway. We ran through Higher Runcorn and we turned right onto Clifton Road. We ran through onto Moughland Lane and we joined Greenway Road. We ran fast onto the A533 and we turned right over the canal onto Leiria Way and into Runcorn town centre. After stopping the bus station we set off up the High Street and we passed close to the Waterloo pub as was and we joined the A533. We crossed over the Mersey and we ran into Waterloo Road. the old town of Widnes up Victoria Road. We climbed the hill along Victoria Road. We crossed over the roundabout and we ran through a bus lane into the Asda car park. We joined onto Gerrard Street past Marks & Spencers and we turned left onto Green Oaks Way. We we got to the bus stops by Green Oaks we got up and got off the bus. Mum had moved the car to a space by the bus station but she hadn't got back from the shops, so we waited in the bus station taking a few pictures. A few minutes later we saw required Arriva NW&W 5015 on a #61 to Runcorn.

Arriva NW&W 5015 in Widnes

A few minutes later mum turned up and we got in the car. Matthew had a Greggs sausage roll and a small bottle of Irn Bru. We set off onto Green Oaks Way and we did a u-turn and we turned right onto Lugsdale Road and we spotted a chip shop. After getting some food we drove for another mile or so to a parking space and we ate our food. Matthew had sausage chips and gravy. When we had finished eating we continued Westwards along Lugsdale Road and we turned right onto Vine Street after dropping off a few gifts we went down Lugsdale Road and at the roundabout and headed back to the A557. We travelled North for around 3 mile before we turned right onto the Eastbound M62. As we travelled towards the M6 we saw Clover Cars Travel YG66 UOF, grey minicoach WA07 ??? and an unidentifled A2B Travel minicoach. At junction 10 we got onto the Southbound M6 and as we travelled towards home we saw Alpha Minibuses N27 SPT, taxi minibus DK64 RDU, HS2 Travel B12 XEC, Parks of Hamilton LSK 509, an unidentifled Hartley's minicoach, an unidentified Flixbus coach (#023), an unidentified white Mercedes yellow/pink stripe minibus, white minibus BL17 SLU and Stanton's of Stoke 484 ABK. At junction 16 we went South down the A500. As we travelled South we saw Roseville BG07 XCN, Lucky Seven YJ14 MSX and an unidentified Roy McCarthy coach. We came off the A500 at Stoke and we headed Southwards before veering left onto Whieldon Road. We dropped off uncle Dave. Matthew got back in the car and we continued up Whieldon Road. We turned left onto Smithpool Road and right onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. We went upstairs and Matthew also drank a bottle of Buddies Cherryade. Matthew chilled out in his room watching television and using his computer. Later on Matthew chilled out in his room. Matthew used his computer and watched music videos on the television. 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.