Trip to Newcastle / Biddulph 11-12-2021

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
69155	Blurton, Magdalen Road	Trentham, Adj Man in Space	22	First Potteries
67157	Trentham, Adj Man in Space	Stoke, Adj stop R	21	First Potteries
119	Stoke, adj stop P	Newcastle BS	1	D&G Bus
65732	Newcastle BS	Tunstall, Stop A	99	First Potteries
105	Tunstall, Stop B	Newcastle BS	94	D&G Bus
63175	Newcastle BS	Hanley BS	4A	First Potteries
67156	Hanley BS	Biddulph BS	7A	First Potteries
69169	Biddulph BS	Hanley BS	7A	First Potteries

Today we decided to do a local trip. We checked the weather for today and it was for cold wet weather all day. I was also feeling a bit fragile as I had the Covid booster jab the day before. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and for breakfast. We decided do catch the 12:00 departure towards Newcastle today. We set off on foot to the bus stop all the way onto Magdalen Road. Whilst we waited for our bus we saw First Potteries 69162 on a #22 to Longton. A few minutes later our bus appeared and it was First Potteries 69155 on a #22 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 69155 in Blurton

We got on the bus and booked a Smart Day ticket at £5.30. This ticket is a multi-operator ticket valid throughout the North Staffordshire area. We sat down ear to the back of the bus and the bus set off onto the A5035. We went past the Trentham Hotel we turned right into New Inn Lane where we saw First Potteries 67157 was on the #21 to Hanley. Assuming we didn't hang around too long, we would be on this bus to Stoke. We got up to get off the bus at the man in Space and Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 69155 before it carried on to Newcastle.

First Potteries 69155 in Trentham

Once we got off the bus we waited at the bus stop for a couple of minutes. A couple of minutes later we saw the First Potteries. As expected it was First Potteries 67157 on the #21 to Hanley.

First Potteries 67157 in Trentham

We got on the bus and we placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus travelled through Trentham up New Inn Lane, We passed the building site where new housing is being built. At the top of the hill we turned right into Hanford along Wilson Road. We ran down Mayne Street before joining the Northbound A34. As we joined the A34 we saw Dunwood coach YN18 XSZ heading Northwards. We crossed under the A500 and we saw First Potteries 67154 on #21 turn to Trentham. We turned onto London Road and we ran through Oak Hill past the former Oak Hill pub. We continued through the the West End before running into Stoke Town centre and Campbell Place. There was nothing of interest parked up in City cabs and we got up and got off the bus. We walked along Campbell Place and we crossed over the road. As we turned into Church Street we saw recent arrival D&G Bus 149 on a #9 to Westlands. We headed into 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 to the Newcastle bus stop. Opposite to the bus stop was First Potteries 32643 parked up on Church Street to sell tickets for the BET365 stadium shuttle.

First Potteries 32643 in Stoke

We waited for the next bus to Newcastle. We didn't have to wait long before we saw a D&G bus approaching. As it glot closer we saw it was D&G Bus 119 on a #1A to Wood Lane.

D&G Bus 119 in Stoke

We got on the bus and we placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Church Street and off up the hill along Hartshill Road. We passed the Noah's Ark pub and Just after the pub we turned left by the Co-operative Food store and we headed to the hospital. We bounced our way through the hospital grounds over the severe speed bumps and we joined the North bound A34. We went around the roundabout at the bottom end of Newcastle and we turned right onto Barracks Road before entering the bus station from the Southern end. Once off the bus we had a walk around to see what we co9uld catch and to take a few bus pivtures. We saw First Potteries 44514 on a #72A to Clayton.

First Potteries 44514 in Newcastle bus station

Another vehcile seen was another one of the new arrivals at D&G. we saw D&G Bus 151 on a #9 to Biddulph.

D&G Bus 151 in Newcastle bus station

Also seen was First Potteries 69170 on a #22 to Longton.

First Potteries 69170 in Newcastle bus station

A few minutes later we saw First Potteries 65733 arrive on a #22 from Longton. After dropping off the passengers it became the next #99 to Chell.

First Potteries 65733 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we placed the Smart Day ticket on the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and onto Barracks Road. We crossed the Jubilee roundabout onto the A527 and headed through Wolstanton. As we travelled North up the road we passed First Potteries 69155 on a #99 to Newcastle. We turned right onto Porthill Bank and we we went down the hill and over the A500. We went through Middleport and at Trubshaw Cross we went left onto Brownhills Road. We joined Tunstall High Street and at the top of the Road we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of First Pottereies 65733 before it continued on towards Chell Heath.

First Potteries 65733 in Tunstall

We went to Tunstall Cafe and Matthew used the toilet. Afterwards he had a can of Coke and a slice of chocolate cake with squirty cream. When we had finished we crossed the road and we waited for a bus back to Newcastle. Whilst we waited we saw First Potteries 32639 on a #3A to Talke. A few minutes later we saw a bus on the map heading towards Newcastle. It came around the corner and it was as expected D&G Bus 105 on a #94 to Newcastle.

D&G Bus 105 in Tunstall

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off down the High Street and forwards onto Brownhills Road. As we travelled down to Trubshaw Cross. We ran forwards along the A5271 through Longport and over the A500. We climbed up Porthill Banks and we turned right. We turned right onto Arnold Grove and we went past the cemetery. We turned left onto Bursley Way and then left onto Bradwell Lane. We turned right onto Hanbridge Avenue. We turned left onto Dimsdale Parade West and then right onto Hassam Parade. We turned left onto Wulstan Drive and we turned right onto the A527 into Newcastle. We crossed the Jubilee roundabout and we ran down Barracks Road and into the bus station from the North end. Once off the bus we took a few pictures whilst we waited for a bus to Hanley. We saw First Potteries 69148 on a #22 to Longton.

First Potteries 69148 in Newcastle bus station

A few minutes later we saw First Potteries 63175 approaching on a #4 to Hanley.

First Potteries 63175 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we Smart Day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off onto the bus station and onto Barracks Road. We crossed the roundabout onto the A53 and we ran up and over into Etruria. We crossed the A500 and and we headed up to Festival Park. We left the A53 onto Forge Lane near to the site of the new link road to Wolstanton. We came back towards the A53 along Festival Way. We crossed under the A53 and we ran up Etruria Road and into Hanley. We continued onto trinity Street before turning right into Stafford Street and after a short wait we continued past the town hall onto Bagnall Street and into the bus station. We then got up and got off the bus. Matthew used the toilet and then we walked over to the John Street. Whilst in the car park we saw First Potteries 67159 on a #7A to Biddulph.

First Potteries 67159 in Hanley bus station

Becasue it was cold we didn't stay in the car park for too long we saw First Potteries 65032 on a #18 to Leek. We walked back to the bus station and we visited the Spar shop. Matthew had a can of Coke and a few small chocolate bars. We headed down to the middle stands to wait for the next bus up to Biddulph. Whilst we waited Matthew ate the chocolate from a Kinder egg. A short time later the bus appeared and it was First Pottereus 67156 on a #7A to Biddulph.

First Potteries 67156 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus waited for time before setting off out of the bus station. We went down John Street and onto Bethesda Street before we went across onto Marsh Street and then we turned right into Trinity Street. We turned left into Stafford Street and we continued forwards to Quadrant Road and we left Hanley along Town Road past the sight of the new Tesco Express store. We travelled through Sneyd Green and over Smallthorne roundabouts to Chell. At the roundabout we turned right and we ran down the A527 through Brindley Ford. We turned left to run through Brown Lees. We crossed over the A527 at Knypersley and we ran around through the housing estates of Biddulph before running into town via St John's Road, Colliers Way. We ran past the building site and we turned right up Wharf Road to the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 67156 before it returned to Hanley on the next #7A.

First Potteries 67156 in Biddulph bus station

WE walked down to the toilet but the toilet now closes at 16:00 on a winter evevning. We walked back up Wharf Road past the old bus station waiting room witch has been turned into a Christmas scene. We turned left onto the High Street and we continued down to the fast food shop. We brought a portion of fries between us and we returned to the bus stop to eat the fries and wait for the next bus back to Hanley. Matthew washed the fries down with a can of Coke. Whilst we waited we saw D&G Bus 105 again on a #94 to Newcastle. A short time later the bus appeared and it was First Potteries 69169 on a #7A to Hanley.

First Potteries 69169 in Biddulph bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off onto the High Street and we turned left onto St Johns Road. We ran around the estate and onto Woodland Street. We crossed over the A527 at Knypersley. We ran through Brown Lees and we rejoined the A527 by the industrial estate. We ran down through Brindley Ford and to Fegg Hayes. We ran up the hill to Chell and we turned left onto High Lane. We ran back through Smallthorne & Sneyd Green into Hanley. When we got up and got off the bus. WE visited the toilet and afterwards, we had arranged with mum to get meet up near to the bus station. As we walked through the bus station we saw D&G Bus 20 on a #16 to Leek.

D&G Bus 20 in Hanley bus station

We crossed over Lichfield Street and we crossed over the ring road and we met up with mum at the Venus Fish Bar. Matthew had sausage chips and gravy washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished eating we got in the car and we went to Blurton. We set off onto Lichfiels Street and we ran down to Joiners Square. we turned right onto the A52 and as we ran towards Stoke we passed Stanton's of Stoke 82 HBC coming the other way. We ran alongside the railway line and we turned right onto City Road. We turned left to to towards the A500 and we veered left onto Whieldon Road. We dropped uncle Dave off and we continued up Whieldon Road and 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 Beaconsfield and back to Blurton. Once back we wrote an e-mail and did the Blog. Matthew chilled out on his computer until 00:00... Mark