Trip to Stafford / Cannock 02-10-2021

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
192	Stafford BS	Rugeley BS	826	Chaserider
51	Rugeley BS	Cannock BS	63	Chaserider
6757	Cannock BS	Landywood, Oakenhayes Farm	X51	NX West Midlands
6717	Landywood, Fairoaks Drive	Cannock BS	X51	NX West Midlands
30	Cannock BS	Moss Pit, Opp School Lane	875	Select Bus
29	Moss Pit, Opp School Lane	Stafford BS	7	Select Bus

Today we decided to do a relatively short trip due to the bad weather and the current fuel shortage. After checking the weather we decided to go to Stafford as Matthew as yet to travel on any Chaserider buses. Matthew got up around 10:30 and had toast and a diet Irn Bru for breakfast. Around 12:00 we set off to pick up uncle Dave as he did not stop over last night. We set off through Blurton and we ran along Beaconsfield Drive. We turned right onto Church Road and at the mini roundabout we veered left onto Blurton Road. We ran past the BP garage we seemed to be be okay for fuel if not a little expensive. We ran Up Blurton Road into Heron Cross and we crossed over the A50 before turning left onto Grove Road. We continued down Wheildon Road and we stopped to pick up uncle Dave. We turned around and headed back up to Heron Cross. We turned right onto Blurton Road and right onto the Westbound A50. At Sideway roundabout we turned left onto the Southbound A500. As the weather was quite bad and I didn't know how traffic was flowing on the motorway, we decided to go down the A34 route. At Hanford roundabout we turned left onto the A34 and we ran through Trentham and past Trentham Gardens. We continued through Titensor and through Darlaston. We ran to the Wst of Stone and we continued down through Aston by Stone to the North end of Stafford. We ran along the last urban section of the A34 South of the M6 link road, and at the top end of Stafford we turned right onto Chell Road. We turned left onto Broad Street and we parked on the car park at the rear of Wilko. We paid for the parking at we headed towards the market. In the corner of the car park was black minibus H6 THY.

H6 THY in Stafford

We walked into the market and we headed to the cafe at the top end. Mum went to get the food and me and Matthew headed around the market to find the toilet. The toilet was near to the entrance to the right hand side. After using the facilities we headed back to the cafe to meet up with mum and uncle Dave. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. He also had some of mum's cheese on toast! After we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we headed to the bus station. We set off onto Stafford Street and we turned left onto Gaolgate Street. At the end of the road we turned right and into the bus station. We decided almost straight away we were going to do the #826 service towards Lichfield. Whilst we waited the 15 or so minutes we took a few bus pictures. We saw Chaserider 24 on a #841 to Uttoxeter.

Chaserider 24 in Stafford bus station

We also saw Select Bus Services 7 on a #875 to Cannock. A few minutes later we saw Chaserider 192 on a #826 to Lichfield.

Chaserider 192 in Stafford bus station

We got on the bus and we booked The Knot day tickets at £7.00 each before sitting towards the back of the bus. We had previously been on this bus when it was 3907 in the Arriva Midlands fleet back in August 2017 from the other end of Acton Gate to Stafford.. We set off out of the bus station onto the A34 and we turned right onto Chell Road. After a brief stop we continued onto Tenterbanks and we headed onto Bridge Street. We joined the Southbound A518 before crossing the big roundabout onto the A34. We crossed over the London railway line amd the Queens retail park and we continued South Eastwards to Weeping Cross. We turned left into Baswich lane and we turned right onto Porlock Avenue. We turned right onto Bodmin Avenue and right onto Stockton Lane. We turned left onto the A513 and we headed through Walton-on-the-Hill. We continued on through Mildford Common and we ran through a fast section of road through Cannock Chase. We joined the Eastbound A51 and we ran towards Rugeley. We passed Adams minibus and we turned right onto the A460. We turned right onto Plovers Rose and right onto Springfields Road. We followed the road around onto Crabtree Way and we turned left onto Green Lane. We turned right onto the A460 and we ran into town. We turned left onto Elmore Lane and we entered Rugeley bus station where we decided to get up and get off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Chaserider 192 before it continued towards Lichfield.

Chaserider 192 in Rugeley bus station

Once off the bus Matthew decided he wanted the toilet. The tardis toilet that was by the bus station had been removed so we had a walk around the market to see if there was one there that we had previously missed. We did not find one there so we headed to the crossing to cross over the road to go to the petrol station. Opposite the crossing was the entrance to a park and what looked like a toilet block. It looked a little old and like it might not be open, but closer investigation revealed that it was open. It was a little basic and did not even have a sink! Not to worry as we had wet wipes in the bag. Matthew used the toilet and afterwards washed his hands with a wet wipe. We placed the wipe in a nearby bin and we crossed back over the road. As we crossed the road we saw a bus entering the bus station. As we got closer we saw it was Chaserider 51 on a #63 to Cannock.

Chaserider 51 in Rugeley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Knot tickets to the driver. The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Caserider 51 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside Chaserider 51

The bus had around 10 minutes before it's booked departure time so I looked up the timetable on the phone. It was only 10 minutes to Hendesford and further 12 minutes into Cannock. The bus waited until departure time unil setting off onto Elmore Lane. We crossed the roundabout onto Sandy lane and we headed Southwards along the A460. We crossed over the Rugeley to Walsall line and we ran fast through the countryside to the North end of Hednesford. We turned right onto Victoria Road and we had a short wait at the main stops in Hednesford near to Tesco before continuing towards Cannock. We continued to the end of Victoria Street and we turned right onto Market Street. We crossed over the railway line and we turned left onto Cannock Street. We crossed over the roundabout and onto Belt Road. We turned left onto Huntington Terrace Road and we headed Southwards. We veered right onto Old Fallow Road and we turned left onto Pye Green Road. We joined the A34 and we ran Southwards into town. We turned left onto the B5012 and left into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew got another picture of Chaserider 51 before it returned to Rugeley on a #63 service.

Chaserider 51 in Cannock bus station

We had a quick walk around the bus station taking picture whi;lst we decided what to do next. We saw Chaserider 7 on a #25 Pye Green circular.

Chaserider 7 in Cannock bus station

Also seen was Chaserider 162 on a #71 to Wolverhampton.

Chaserider 162 in Cannock bus station

A short time later we saw National Express West Midlands 6757 on a X51 Birmingham service.

NX West Midlands 6757 in Cannock bus station

We decided we were going to do this bus, and whilst we waited for the bus to be readied for service we saw Alfa 89 enter the bus station on a coaching holiday excursion.

Alfa 89 in Cannock bus station

When the bus was ready for service we got on the bus and we flashed the Knot ticket to the driver before going upstairs and sitting down. The bus set off out off the bus station and we joined the A34. We ran onto the roundabout and did a 180' onto the ringway. We crossed the roundabout onto the A5190 and past the Mill Farm pub which is going to be a Carter and Miller steakhouse. We turned left onto the A460 and we ran past the McArthur Glen designer outlet. We pulled into the bus stop and we returned back Southwards down the A460. We turned left onto Votager Drive and we entered the Orbital Retail Park. We followed Voyager Drive to the left and we turned left onto Orbital Way. We rejoined the Southbound A460 and we crossed over the M6 toll road onto the A34. We turned right onto Hilton Lane and we turned left onto Gorsey Lane. At the roundabout we turned left onto Holly Lane and at the end we turned right onto the A34. We spotted a shop so we decided to get up and get off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of National Express West Midlands 6757 before it continued on towards Birmingham.

NX West Midlands 6757 in Landywood

Once off the bus we walked back up the A34 to the shop. Matthew had a can of Pepsi max and a couple of chocolate bars before going outside. We met back up with uncle Dave and we went to the bus shelter opposite. Matthew ate a double Milky Way and I looked up the bus times. It turned out that the service from the stop on the A34 was for the #74 which was Mondays - Fridays only so we had to go around the corner onto Holly Lane to catch a X51 back to Cannock. There was a large puddle by this bus stop and whilst we waited we got soaked 3 time by careless motorists. If I had taken there details they could have been charged for driving without due care and attention. We checked to see what bus was approaching on the map. A few minutes later the bus came around the corner and it was National Express West Midlands 6717 as expected.

NX West Midlands 6717 in Landywood

We got on the bus and we flashed the Knot ticets to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus set off along Holly Lane and we turned right onto Gorsey Lane. We turned right onto Hilton Lane and then left onto the Northbound A34. We crossed the M6 toll and we ran Northwards up the A460. We turned right onto Votager Drive and we entered the Orbital Retail Park. We followed Voyager Drive to the left and we turned left onto Orbital Way. We rejoined the Northbound A460 and we ran up to the McArthur Glen retail outlet village. After looping around to the stops for McArthurs Glen we rejoined the Southbound A460. We turned right onto the A5190 and we ran to the edge of the town centre. We went Westwards onto the ringway and at the roundabout we turned left onto the B5012 before turning left into the bus station. We got up and as the bus was now empty Matthew took a picture inside National Express West Midlands 6717 before we got off the bus.

Inside NX West Midlands 6717

Once off the bus Matthew decided he wanted to go to the toilet. We went into the shopping centre and after using the facilities we came out of the shopping centre and looked around for a bus we could do to start heading back towards Stafford. We spotted Select Bus Services 30 which was about to do a #875 to Stafford.

Select Bus 30 in Cannock bus station

The bus was due off in around 10 minutes and whilst we waited we saw former D&G Solo's now Chaserider 104 & 106, Former Tyrer's Solo now Chaserider 148 and Daish's Holiday BJ16 KYO. The driver returned to the bus and we got on and flashed the Knot ticket to the driver before we sat down. The bus set off out of the bus station and we turned left onto the B5012 and we headed Westwards. The origina; plan was to get off in penkridge and catch another bus forwards to Stafford. However, a consultation of the timetable revealed that this was the last bus from Penkridge to Stafford for the day! We decided to go to Moss Pit and catch a #7 forward to Stafford. We crossed over the M6 and we turned left onto Woolgarston Way. We ran forwards onto Boscomoor Lane and we turned right into Vale Gardens.We ran forwards onto Filance Lane. We turned left onto Francis Green Lane and left onto Cannock Road. We continued onto New Road and we turned right onto the Northbound A449. We ran fast up the A449 and under the M6. We past Select Bus Services 7 on the #875 to Cannock. We crossed over the railway line and we climbed the hill up to Moss Pit where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Select Bus Services 30 before it continued towards Stafford.

Select Bus 30 in Moss Pit

Once off the bus we had around 17 minutes to wait until the next and final #7 was duse to depart. Worryingly the departure board didn't have another bur displayed on it! Also here was no bus on the bustimes.org map apart from the #7 we had just missed which was heading towards stafford. I checked the Staffordshier CC bus times sight, bustimes.org & Select Bus Services own website whixh said there was a 17:50 departure. Whilst we waited Matthew ate a toffee crisp and we saw AJ's minibus MC15 DMX going Southwards. A few minutes later Matthew switched on his camera and the bus turned the camera out of Burton Bank Lane. As it approached we saw it was Select Bus Service 29 on a #7 to Stafford.

Select Bus 29 in Moss Pit

We got on the bus and we flashed the Knot ticket to the driver for the final time today. The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Select Bus Services 29 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside Select Bus 29

A quick bit of research revealed that this bus used to be 226 in the Bakerbus fleet, but it was still a required bus as it was branded for service #391 in Stockport. When it was time for departure the bus set off up the A449. We ran Northwards over the railway line and we ran into Stafford. We crossed the big roundabout and we joined the Northbound A34. We turned left onto South Walls and rught onto Cope Street. We turned left onto Eastgate Street and we ran forwards onto Salter Street. We followed the one way system to the right onto Malt Mill Lane and we turned left onto North Walls. We veered left into the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. We had arraned to meet mum in B&M car park. Before we set off to the car we took a few more bus pictures. We saw Chaserider 64 on a #74 to Cheslyn Hay.

Chaserider 64 in Stafford bus station

Also seen was First Potteries 63174 on a #101 to Hanley.

First Potteries 63174 in Stafford bus station

We headed southwards along North Walls on foot and we walked into the car par adjacent to B&M. Mum was still in the shop when we got back to the car and she appeared a couple of minutes later. Matthew had a sausage roll and a bottle of Irn Bru. We set off out of the car park and we joined the A34. We headed Northwards out of town and through Aston by Stone and to the West side of town. We decided to stop at Walton Fish Bar tea as they do really nice fish! Mathew went to the Londis store next door with mum and I went to the chip shop. Matthew had sausage chips and gravy washed down a bottle of Cherry Coke. We ate the chips in the car and when we had finished we set off onto the Northbound A34. We had a couple of little things to do before we went home so we ran through Titensor and Trentham and into Trenbt Vale. We turned right into Harpfields Road. We turned around to face back Southwards and we stopped at a house so mum could pick some stuff up that she brought on an auction. Afterwards we went to get petrol. WE decided to go to Sainsbury's in Stoke as it was on the way to uncle Dave's house. We set off along Harpfields Road and at the roundabout we turned left onto Keelings Drive. We turned left onto London Road and we ran through the West End into Stoke. We stopped at the petrol station and filled up with diesel. We then headed inbto the car park to see the City Cabs minibuses. We saw City Cabs GN07 KXK parked up there.

City Cabs GN07 KXK in Stoke

Also seen was City Cabs FT61 UEP.

City Cabs FT61 UEP in Stoke

We set off onto London Road and we ran forwards onto Campbell Place. We continued around the one-way system onto Church Street and we veered right onto Liverpool Road. We turned right onto Elenora Street and right onto Copeland Street. We followed the one-way system onto Glebe Street and we turned left onto Church Street. We crossed over the A500 and we turned right onto Wheildon Road. We went under the railway line and we stopped at uncle Dave's house. Matthew used the toilet and afterwards drank some of uncle Rob's pop. We set off onto Wheildon Road and we ran forwards onto Grove Road. We turned right onto Blurton Road and we crossed over the A50. We continued through Blurton and we turned right onto Church Road. We turned right onto Beaconsfiels Drive and we got back to Blurton around 19:50. Matthew chilled out on his computer and we did some of the Blog. We also wrote a few emails and generally used the computer to entertain ourselves. We watched TV and Matthew got ready for bed. Matthew settled down around 00:00... Mark