Trip to Northampton / Rectory Farm 15-04-2022

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
37041	Northampton, Marriot Street	Northampton BS	14	Stagecoach Midlands
15844	Northampton BS	Rectory Farm, Fellmead Road	2	Stagecoach Midlands
10731	Rectory Farm, Fellmead Road	Northampton BS	1	Stagecoach Midlands
18152	Northampton BS	Northampton, Marriot Street	4	Stagecoach Midlands

Today Matthew was coming out of the residential unit for the weekend and we were going to Northampton. Research for the trip iincluded downloading a local Stagecoah Northampton bus map, checking out tickets we were going to use over the next two days and checking the weather, which was for warm sunny weather for both days. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. He chilled out in his room in the morning and waited for us to come to collect him. Whilst waiting we saw Shelton Care Group SH71 KMZ outside. Mum and I appeared around 12:00 and Matthew went downsrairs and got in the car. We set off onto Temple Street and we turned right onto Smithpool Road. We turned left onto City Road and we ran down the hill into Stoke. We ran under the railway line and over the A500 onto Church Street. We followed the one-way system arouns Stoke and we turned left onto London Road. We stopped at Sainsbury's for diesel before continuing along London Road through Oakhill to Trent Vale. We stopped at the pub and we had dinner. Matthew had 2 sausage chips egg and beans with bacon and oatcakes washed down with a glass of Coke. For afters he had toffeee sponge pudding in ice cream. Highlights of the bus sighting included First Potteries 69151 on a #22 to Longton and 65030 on a #101 to Hanley. Once we had finished eating we set off to pick up uncle Dave. We ran down the A34 and we joined the Northbound A500. We came off the A500 and we turned right onto the A50. We came off the A50 at Heron Cross and we dropped down into Fenton to pick uncle Dave. We turned around and ran up Wheildon Road and forwards onto Grove. We turned right onto Blurton Road and at the roundabout we joined the Eastbound A50. We ran through Longton and Meir. We continued along the A50 through Blythe Bridge and Uttoxeter. We continued Eastwards to the M1 and we got onto the Southbound M1. We ehaded South through Leicesterxhire and into Northamptonshire. As we travelled Southwards we saw Flixbus BV19 LLW, Alfa 91, white minibus CN20 DYJ and National Express 325(A1). A few miles before we got to Northampton I was feeling a little tired so we stopped at Watford Gap services. Matthew went to use the facilities and on the way back to the car we saw. Longmarsh Van Hire minibus WA18 CZN.

Longmarsh Van Hire WA18 CZN in Watford Gap

Another vehicle seen was silver minibus YP12 MMF

YP12 MMF in Watford Gap

We had a quick drink and a snak in the car before setting off and rejoining the Southbound M1. We came off the M1 at junction 16 and we joined the Eastbound A4500. As we travelled Eastwards we saw patient tramport minibus YJ21 GPV and Stagecoach Midlands 15667 on a D3 to Daventry. We continued into the edge of the town and we turned left onto the Eastbound A428. We crossed over the railway line North of the station and we turned left onto the A5095. We turned right onto Barracks Road and we saw Stagecoach Midlands 18152 on a #4 to Sunnyside. We travlled for about 1/4 mile and we reached the hotel. We turned down a tiny back alley and we headed to the car park at the back of the hotel. Once we had parked up mum went to sort out booking in and the rest of us chilled in the car before going up to our rooms. We set up the computer and we had a rest for around an hour before going out to do a few buses. We went onto Barracks Road and we walked to the nearest bus stop. We didn't have to wait long before we saw a Stagecoach bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was Stagecoach Midlands 37041 on a #14 to Northampton.

Stagecoach Midlands 37041 in Northampton

We got on the bus and we booked Northampton Day Rider tickets at £4.20 each before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off down Barrack Road and we rode the 1/2 mile or so to the edge of town. We ran forwards onto Broad Street and we turned right onto Lady's Lane. We turned sharp right onto Greyfriars and we entered the bus station from the North end where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we had a walk around to see what could be see. Whilt taking picture of the buses inside the bus station is difficult, buses can be photographed from either end of the bus station. We walked onto King Street and we saw Stagecoach Midlands 15405 on a #10 to Kettering.

Stagecoach Midlands 15405 in Northampton bus station

We walked back into the bus station to see what we might be able to catch. We saw Stagecoach Midlands 15844 on a #2 to Rectory Farm.

Stagecoach Midlands 15844 in Northampton bus station

We decided to do this bus so we got on and flashed the Northampton Day ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty, so Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Midlands 15844 before we sat down.

Inside Stagecoach Midlands 15844

We set off out of the bus station onto Bradshaw Street and we turned left onto Sheep Street. We ran onto Lady's Lane and we saw Chalfont Coaches (NX) BV67 JZA parked up on a nearby Street. We turned right onto Lower Miounts and left onto the A4500. We veered left onto the A5123 and we ran past The Racecourse and The White Elephant. We ran past Morrisons and up Spinney Hill to The Lumbertubs pub where we turned right onto Lumbertubs Lane. We turned right onto the A43 and left onto Billing Brook Lane. We turned left onto Crestwood Lane and we ran through a large housing estate. We turned left onto Lings Way and right onto Goldling Road past PeeJay Cocktails Fruits which is temporarily closed. We turned left onto Blackthorn Road and left onto the Northbound A5076. We ran up to the roundabout and we retirned back South before turned left onto Rectory Farm Road where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Mattehw took another picture of Stagecoach Midlands 15844 before it returned on a #2 to Northampton

Stagecoach Midlands 15844 in Rectory Farm

Once off the bus we didn't have to wai for very long before another bus appeared. It was Stagecoach Midlands 10731 on a #1 to Northampton.

Stagecoach Midlands 10731 in Rectory Farm

We got on the bus and we flashed the Northampton Day Rider ticket to the driver. The lower saloon was empty so matthew took a picture inside of Stagecoach Midlands 10731 before we went upstairs.

Inside Stagecoach Midlands 10731

The top deck was also empty so Matthew took another picture inside of Stagecoach Midlands 10731 before we sat down.

Inside Stagecoach Midlands 10731

We set off along Rectory Farm Road and we at the end we turned right onto the A5076. We turned left onto Blackthorn road and we turned left onto Goldling Road. We turned left onto Lings Way and right onto Crestwood Road. We ran to the end and we turned left onto Billing Brook Road. We crossed over the BIlling Brook and we went down the back of the Weston Pavell retail park to a small bus interchange where we saw Stagecoach Midlands 18127 on a #5 to Southfields and 18149 on a #1 to Rectory Farm. Wew turned right onto the A4500 and we ran Westwards. We ran for about 2 miles or so to the edge of Northampton and we veered right onto Lower Mounts. We veered left onto Wellington Street and we ran forwards onto Greyfriars. We past the Mayorhold car park and we turned left into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we had a look what we could do to get back to the hotel. We spotted Stagecoach Midlands 28629 which was on a X7 to Market Harborough.

Stagecoach Midlands 28629 in Northampton bus station

The Market Harborough service wasn't due to go for quite a will, so we had a walk around. We saw Stagecoach Midlands 10727 on a #7 to Moulton Park.

Stagecoach Midlands 10727 in Northampton bus station

A few minutes later we saw Stagecoach Midlands 18152 come into the bus station on a #4. We walked into the bus station and Matthew got a picture of Stagecoach Midlands 18152.

Stagecoach Midlands 18152 in Northampton bus station

This was another service we could do Northwards past the hotel, so we decided to catch this bus instead. We got on the bus and we flashed the Northampton Day Rider ticket to the driver for the final time today before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus set off out of the bus station onto Bradshaw Street. We turned left onto Sheep Street and left onto Greyfriars. We turned right onto Horse Market and we ran forwards onto Broad Street. We continued onto Barracks Road and we ran for about 1/2 mile where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Midlands 18152 as it continued towards Sunnyside.

Stagecoach Midlands 18152 in Northampton

Before we crossed over the road, we spotted Stagecoach Midlands 28624 on a X7 to Northmapton.

Stagecoach Midlands 28624 in Northampton

We crossed over the road and we headed into the hotel. We went up to the room for a few minutes, then we decided to go out and get some supper. We had spotted a decent looking chip shop whilst out on the bus so we decided to drive up to there. We got in the car and we headed out of the car park onto Barracks Road. We veered left onto Campbell Street and through Campbell Square. We continued onto Upper Mounts and we veered left onto At Michael's Road. We turned left onto the A5123 and we headed North Eastwards out of town. We ran to the top of the hill and we stopped at the chip shop. Matthew had sausage chips and gravy and we ate the chips in the car. This was the first location that I have seen Starship food delivery robots. Once we had finished eating we decided to do some food shopping for the trip out tomorrow. We set off onto the A5123 and we ran down the hill towards Northampton town centre. We travelled for about 600 metres and we turned right into Morrisons. We parked up and we went in the shop. We brought sandwich meal deals for tomorrow as well as a few other bits and pieces. We got back in the car and we set off down the A5123. At The White Elephant we turned right onto the A5095 and we turned left onto Barracks Road and back to the hotel. After parking up around the back we went up to the rooms to settle down. We had a chocolate bar and a drink of Fanta Orange, and Matthew chose a Toffee Crisp. We wrote an e-mail and did some work on this Blog, before settling down to bed around 00:30... Mark