Trip to Widnes / Runcorn 01-10-2022

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
5002	Widnes, Green Oaks	Runcorn BS	61	Arriva NW&W
3041	Runcorn BS	Halton Lea North	110	Arriva NW&W
3044	Halton Lea South	Runcorn BS	82A	Arriva NW&W
3045	Runcorn BS	Belle Vale, Interchange stop A	79C	Arriva NW&W
4467	Belle Vale, Interchange stop B	Halewood Shopping Centre	79	Arriva NW&W
719	Halewood, Leathers lane Stop C	Belle Vale, Interchange stop B	3	Arriva NW&W
4458	Belle Vale, Interchange stop B	Belle Vale, Garden Lodge Grove	79	Arriva NW&W
3045	Belle Vale, Garden Lodge Grove	Widnes, Green Oaks	79C	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to re-visit Widnes. No research for the trip was done other than to check the weather, which was for mainly dry with a chance of some rain later on. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast for breakfast. We got ready to go out and we set off around 11:45. 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 stopped at Blurton Stores to return a parcel. Aftwards 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 continued down Wheildon Road and we joined the Noerhbound A500. We were going to go to Asda to get petrol, but the queue to get in the reatil park was massive. We came off the A500 at Wolstanton and crossed the roundabout and got back on the A500. We came off at Porthill and we turned right onto the A527. We stopped at the Texaco Petrol station and we put some pertol in the car. We turned left onto the A527 and we turned right to join the Northbound A500. 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 we saw black minibus GU64 OOA, ABC Coaches YD19 ABC, an unidentified B&H Coaches coach, white minibus WA53 DPO, Selwyn's (NX) BV19 XSF(#540), A Cabs DK65 MSY & silver minibus SG13 KPN. We left the M6 at junction 21A and we headed Westwards M62 Seen on the M62 was an unidentified Cannon BBT coach. We came off the M62 and we headed Southwards down the A557. 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 we saw Arriva NW&W 3140 on a #79C to Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 3140 in Widnes

There past of the car park were into a new Starbucks and Burger King. 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 can of Coke. When we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we walked towards the exit near to the bus station. 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 3054 on a #110 to Warrington.

Arriva NW&W 3054 in Widnes

Also seen was Network Warrington 236 on a #32 to Warrington.

Network Warrington 236 in Widnes

Matthew wanted to wait for a bus over the Bridge. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 5002 on a #82A to Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 5002 in Widnes

We got on the bus and we booked Arriva Merseyzone Daysaver tickets at £4.60 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. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 5002 as it continued towards Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 5002 in Runcorn bus station

Once off the bus we had a look to see what else we might catch. We saw Ashcroft's Travel HIG 5672 on a #52 to Beechwood.

Ashcroft's Travel HIG 5672 in Runcorn bus station

Matthew decided he wanted to do a bus forwards to Halton Lea. A short time later a bus appeared. It was Arriva NW&W 3044 on a #110 to Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 3044 in Runcorn bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Merseyzone Daysaver tickets 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 36813 on a #2 to Chester.

Stagecoach Merseyside 36813 in Halton Lea

Another vehicles seen was Arriva NW&W 5018 on a X30 to Chester.

Arriva NW&W 5018 in Halton Lea

We could not do the X30 as it was going off the ticket we had, so we decided to go in the other direction. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. It was Arriva NW&W 3041 on a #62 to Halebank.

Arriva NW&W 3041 in Halton Lea

We got on the bus and whilst I flashed the Arriva Merseyzone Daysaver tickets to the driver, Matthew took a picture of the inside of Arriva NW&W 3041.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3041

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 up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 3041 as it carried on towards Halebank.

Arriva NW&W 3041 in Runcorn bus station

Once off the bus we headed over to the pub. Matthew used the toilet and afterwards we had a glass of coke each. When we had finished our drinks we walked back over to the bus station. We decided to head back over the water towards Widnes. A few minutes later we saw Arriva NW&W 3045 on a #79C to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 3045 in Runcorn bus station

We got on the bus and we placed the Daysaver Merseyside Zone tickets under the scanner before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off out onto 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 the old town of Widnes up 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. After a short wait we set off Northwards to the roundabout and we joined the Westbound B5178. We travelled around 2 miles and we crossed over the railway line near to Hough Green railway station. We were now out in open countryside and we ran fast along the B5178 into the village of Tarbock Green. We continued West for around another mile into Netherley and we continued along the B5178 North Westwards for around another mile to Belle Vale. When we got into familiar surroundings and we saw the shopping centre we got up and got of off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 3045 as it carried on towards Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 3045 in Belle Vale

Once off the bus we walked around the corner towards the shopping centre. At the interchange we saw Arriva NW&W 4561 on a #204 to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4561 in Belle Vale

We decided to go back onnto the main road and catch something towards Halewood. We crossed over the road and we saw Arriva NW&W 4476 on a #79 to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4476 in Belle Vale

As we walked towards the stop we saw a double decker approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 4467 on a #79 to Halewood.

Arriva NW&W 4467 in Belle Vale

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Merseyzone Daysaver tickets to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. We set off along the B5178, past the site of the new Home Bargains. We followed the road around the 90' left hand turn into Netherley and we turned right onto Wood Lane. We continued onto Gerrards Lane and at junction we turned left onto Lydiates Lane. We turned riught onto Okell Drive and we ran around the housing estate. At the roundabout we turned right onto Church Road and into the old village. We turned right onto Baileys Lane and we crossed over the railway line. We turned right onto Leathers lane and by the shopping centre we turned left onto Hillingdon Avenue where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walked along Hillingdon Avenue onto Leathers Lane. We wlked into the retail park and we walked own to the bottom end where the buses layover in between services. We saw Arriva NW&W 4449 on a #78 to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4449 in Halewood

Also on layover was Arriva NW&W 719 on a #3 Huyton Quarry.

Arriva NW&W 719 in Halewood

We walked up to the bus stops and we decided to catch the next bus back in the direction of Belle Vale. The next bus happened to be Arriva NW&W 719 so we decided to do that. We got on the bus and we placed the Daysaver Merseyside Zone tickets under the scanner before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off out onto Leathers Lane and we crossed over the A562 onto New Huttle Lane. We continued forwards onto Torrington Drive and we turned left onto Westbound A562. We turned right onto Mackett's Lane and we headed Northwards. We turned right onto Camberley Drive and we turned right onto Arncliffe Road and we ran around the estate. We re-joined Mackett's Lane and we ran forwards onto Halewood Road. We turned right onto the B5171 and we turned left onto Besford Road. We ran past Morrisons and forwards onto Hedgefield Road. We stopped at the interchange by the shops and after a brief stop we re-joined Hedgefield Road. We turned right onto the B5178 and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 719 as it continued towards Huyton Quarry.

Arriva NW&W 719 in Belle Vale

We waited for a bus back towards Widnes. The #79C was running late and we saw that there was a #79 running in front of it. We decided that we could do this for a couple of stops and get off and catch the following #79C. We saw Arriva NW&W 4458 on a #79. flashed the Arriva Merseyzone Daysaver tickets to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. We set off along the B5178. We went did it for 2 stops and we got off it. We waited for the bus towards Widnes. A short time later the bus appeared and it was Arriva NW&W 3045 on a #79C to Widnes.

Arriva NW&W 3045 in Belle Vale

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Merseyzone Daysaver tickets to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the front of the bus. The bus was very full and had to sit apart. We set off along the B5178 and we ran out of town. We went out into open countryside and we ran through Tarbock and over the A5300. We ran into Hough Green and we turned left onto Hough Green Road. We turned right onto Arley Drive and we ran though the estate. We turned left onto Hough Green Road and we we ran back down to the A5178. We passed Hough Green railway station and we ran through Ditton and into the West end of Widnes. We reached the roundabout and we turned right onto the road to the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 3045 as it continued towards Runcorn.

Arriva NW&W 3045 in Widnes

We walked across to Morrisons and Matthew used the toilet. When he had finished we went in the supermarket and brought a meal deal. We walked back to the car amd Matthew had a bottle of Coke from the meal deal. We set off onto Green Oaks Way and we did a --turn at the roundabout to headed Southwards. We continued onto Lugsdale Road and we stopped at the end to visit Tony's Chip Shop. We just got there in time as he was about to close. Matthew had sausage and chips. We drove around the corner onto Afforde Street and we parked up to eat the food. When we had finished we turned around and we turned right onto Lugsdale Road. We turned into Tesco and we stopped at the petrol station. We filled up with petrol and afterwards we re-joined Lugsdale Road. We turned right to re-join the A557 and we headed Northwards up to the motorway. We travelled North for around 3 mile before we turned right onto the Eastbound M62. As we travelled towards the M6 we passed an unidentified Stagecoach double decker on an Amazon Shuttle. At junction 10 we got onto the Southbound M6 and we headed Southwards through Cheshire. At junction 16 we went South down the A500 through Longport and Etruria into Stoke. We came off the A500 and we diverted onto Wheildon Road. We dropped off uncle Dave and Matthew got out to use the toilet. Once we had dropped off uncle Dave we set off onto Wheildon Road and past the former Regent pub which is now up for sale. We ran forwards onto Grove Road and we saw green minibus R482 NDM parked up. 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 the A5035 and we got back to Blurton around 20:00. 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