Trip to Kidsgrove / Longton 05-08-2022

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67159	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Hanley BS	23	First Potteries
63111	Hanley BS	Kidsgrove, Mount Road	3	First Potteries
63012	Kidsgrove, Town Hall	Hanley, stop J1	23	First Potteries
67154	Hanley BS	Fenton, Albert Square	23	First Potteries
113	Fenton, Smithpool Road	Longton Interchange	1A	D&G Bus
47519	Longton Interchange	Blurton, Opp Ladybank Road	22	First Potteries

Today Matthew was going out on the bus and returning to Blurton for the weekend. He was also going out to the pub. We weren't going to visit Grandma and Grandad becasue they have Covid, so things were a little different. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. In the morning Matthew went out out on the bus. We went downstairs and we set off onto Temple Street. We turned left onto Christchurch Street and left onto City Road. We walked down to the bus stop and e waited for a bus towards Hanley. Whilst we waited we saw First Potteries 63116 on a #11 to Hanley. A short time later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 67159 on a #23 to Hanley.

First Potteries 67159 in Fenton

We got on the bus and we booked to Hanley before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off down City Road and we joined the A52 to go under the railway line and over the A500. We continued onto Church Street and into the centre of Stoke. After a brief stop we continued around the one-way system onto Elenora Street and right onto Copeland street. We turned left onto Glebe Street and we went under the railway line before turning left 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 once in the bus station we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we went to the stop to wait for a bus to Kidsgrove. A few minutes later we saw First Potteries 63111 on a #3 to Crewe.

First Potteries 63111 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Kidsgrove before we sat down towards 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 ran forwards onto Marsh Street. We turned right onto Trinity Street and left onto Stafford Street. As we travlled we saw First Potteries 63117 on a #4A to Kidsgrove. We turned left onto New Hall Street and we re-joined Marsh Street. We ran forwards onto the A50 and we ran through Cobridge up to Burslem. We ran into the centre of town past the old Lloyds bank and onto Scotia Road past the site of the new Lidl. We turned left onto Williamson Street and right onto Tunstall High Street. We continued up the High Street past the City Centre Central depot depot and past the Tesco Express store which is closed for refurbishment. We ran to towards Goldenhill and down the hill into Kidsgrove where we got up and got off the bus. We walked around the corner to the chip shop and Matthew had sausage and chips and a can of Coke. When we had finished eating we walked around the corner onto Liverpool Road. We waited for the bus towards Hanley. A short time later we saw First Potteries 63012 on a #3 to Hanley.

First Potteries 63012 in Kidsgrove

We got on the bus and we booked to Hanley before we sat down. We set off along the A50. We ran up the hill into Goldenhill and then forwards through Sandyford past the new retail park into Tunstall. We ran down the High Street. We continued down the High Street and we ran past the former Co-operative bank. We turned left onto Williamson Street. At the roundabout we turned right onto Scotia Road and past the the old bus garage before running up the hill into Burslem Town centre. We ran through the light onto Waterloo Road and up the hill into Cobridge. We ran down the hill towards Hanley and then up into town along Hope Street and Stafford Street. We turned right at the end past the town hall and onto Bagnall Street before entering the bus station where we got up got off. We waited for a bus back to Fenton. A short time later we saw First Potteries 67154 on a #23 to Newstead.

First Potteries 67154 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Fenton before we sat down. We set off onto John Street and we turned left onto Bethesda Street. We crossed over the ring road and we ran down onto Regent Road and forwards onto Cleveland Road. We ran down though Shelton along College Road. We turned right onto Avenue Road and left onto Stoke Road. We ran down the hill and we turned left onto Station Road and past the railway station. We turned right onto Glebe Street and under the railway line an we ran around the one-way system in Stoke and stopped by Stoke Minster. We turned left onto Church Street and we crossed the A500 and we ran under the railway line. After climbing up the hill into Fenton we turned right into Christchurch Street where we got up and got off the bus. We then walked back to the residential unit. Matthew went upstairs to his room to chill out and watch buses out of the window. Whilst he was waiting Matthew had a chocolate bar and a can of Dr Pepper. Matthew also had a shave. I turned up at 15:00 to pick Matthew up. He went downstairs and we cut through onto City Road. We saw First Potteries 65031 on a #11 to Hanley. We crossed over the road and we waited for a bus towards Longton. Whilst we waited we saw First Potteries 67147 on a #11 to Newcastle. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was D&G Bus 113 on a #1A to Meir.

D&G Bus 113 in Fenton

We got on the bus and we booked Longton before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We carried on along City Road. We ran past the site of the new Burger King and we went forwards onto King Street. We ran through Foley and we under the railway line into Longton Transport Interchange and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew got another picture of D&G Bus 113 before it continued towards Meir.

D&G Bus 113 in Longton Interchange

We cut through onto The Strand so I could get a picture of Wrights Pie. On the way back we saw First Potteries 67181 on a #6A to Hanley.

First Potteries 67181 in Longton

Also seen was D&G Bus 115 on a #1 to Park Site.

D&G Bus 115 in Longton

We cut through past Barclays bank towards the Interchange just as the bus was arriving. It was First Potteries 47519 on a #22 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 47519 in Longton Interchange

We got on the bus and we booked to Blurton before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the Interchange onto Baths Road past Tesco. We cross over the A50 onto Foley Road and at the end we turned right onto Longton Hall Road. We ran down the hill into Blurton and we turned left onto Blurton Road. We ran up the hill and at the roundabout we turned right onto Church Road. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive and ran to the far end where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 47519 before it continued towards Newcastle.

First Potteries 47519 in Blurton

We crossed the road and Matthew took a picture of First Potteries 47520 on a #22 to Longton.

First Potteries 47520 in Blurton

We walked back to the house and Matthew used his computer. For a snack Matthew had some toast washed down with a can of Cherry Coke. Around 17:45 we set off to pick up uncle Dave and got to the pub. We set off thr Blurton onto Beaconsfield Drive. We turned left onto Church Road and at the roundabout we veered left onto Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton and into Heron Cross and over the A50. At Heron Cross lights we turned left onto Grove Road. We ran forwards onto Wheildon Road and we picked up uncle Dave. Once we had picked up uncle Dave, we set off back down towards Stoke and onto the A500. We turned left onto Church Street and and we went around the one-way system. We turned left onto London Road and we headed into the West End, and we ran past the former Oak Tree pub which has now been demolished. We ran to the end of London Road and we sat at the light waiting to turn right onto the A34. We continued up to the pub and we parked up. We walked into the pub and Matthew had a brunch with oatcakes followed by toffee sponge pudding with ice cream. Whilst we ate highlights of the passing buses included First Potteries 65040 on a #101 to Stafford and ERS Medical FJ22 FYT. Once we had finished eating we set off on the A34 and we ran into Trentham. We turned left onto the A5035 and we crossed over the canal and the railway line and into Blurton. We chilled out on the computer for a short while before taking uncle Dave home. We got in the car and we set off through Burton and we ran along Beaconsfield Drive where we saw white minibus EA07 LWW parked up. We turned left onto Church Street and left onto Blurton Road. We ran into Heron Cross and over the A50 and we ran into Heron Cross lights. We turned left onto Grove Road and we ran forwards onto Wheildon Road. We dropped off uncle Dave and we ran back up Wheildon Road and forwards onto Grove Road. We turned right onto Blurton Road and we crossed over the A50. We ran through Blurton and at the roundabout we veered right onto Church Street. We turned right onto the A5035 and we returned to Blurton. Later on we did some more of the Blog and we chilled out on the sofa until bedtime around 00:00... Mark