Trip to Newcastle / Hanley 23-12-2022

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67175	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Newcastle BS	23	First Potteries
63177	Newcastle BS	Hanley, stop S7	4	First Potteries
67144	Hanley BS	Fenton, adj Travers Court	11	First Potteries
67157	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Newcastle BS	11	First Potteries
35939	Newcastle BS	Newcastle, O/s Cherry Tree PH	25	First Potteries

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was going out on the bus. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast for breakfast. In the morning Matthew went to Newcastle. We went downstairs and we cut through onto City Road. We walked to the stop to wait for a bus towards Newcastle. We saw a bus approaching and as it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 67175 on a #11 to Newcastle. We got on the bus and we booked to Newcastle before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off down City Road and we ran down the hill over the old railway line to Leek and onto the A52. We ran under the railway line and over the A500 and straight into Stoke town centre. Due to roadworks there was a diversion in place for Westbound bus services. We turned left onto Lonsdale Street and right onto Flemming Road. We turned right onto Boothen Road and we re-joined Church Street. After a brief stop in Stoke we continued along church Street and forwards onto Hartshill Road. We ran up the hill and into Hartshill. We ran forwards onto George Street and we ran down the hill into Newcastle. We turned left at the roundabout onto Barracks Road and into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew got a picture of First Potteries 67175 before it returned towards Hanley on a #11 service.

First Potteries 67175 in Newcastle bus station

Once off the bus we set off up Castle Walk and we visited Greggs. Afterwards we cam back down Castle Walk into the bus station. We had a look around for something to catch towards Hanley. We saw First POtteries 63177 on a #4 to Hanley. We got on the bus and we booked to Hanley before we sat down towards the back of the bus. When it was time to go the bus set off out of the bus station and onto Barracks Road. Matthew drank a can of Cherry Coke. We crossed the Jubilee Roundabout and onto the A53. We ran into Basford and over the A500. We ran down into Etruria and over the A500. We continued along the A53 and we turned left onto Forge Lane. We ran out along the Lane and we crossed over the canal before we returned back into Etruria along festival Way. We crossed under the A53 onto Etruria Road. We ran up the hill into Hanley and we ran forwards onto Trinity Street. We turned right onto Stafford Street and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took a picture of First Potteries 63177 as it continued towards the bus station.

First Potteries 63177 in Hanley

Once of the bus Matthew walked around the corner onto Old Hall Street and went to B&M. He bought a bottle of Coke. Afterwards he went outside onto Old Hall Street and around the corner onto Lichfield Street and into the bus staion. We waited for a bus towards Fenton. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 67144 on a #11 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67144 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Fenton before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off onto John Street and we turned left onto Bethesda Street. We turned left onto the ring road and left onto Lichfield Street and we turned right onto Birch Terrace. We followed the road around onto Charles Street and we turned right onto Old Hall Street. We crossed over the ring road onto Bucknall New Road. We ran down the hill through Limekiln lights. As we travelled up we saw D&G Bus 165 on a #16 to Hanley. We turned right onto Dividy Road and we saw . We turned left onto Beverley Drive and right onto Dawlish Drive. We ran through the estate and back onto the A5272. We ran up to Adderley Green. At the roundabout we turned right onto Anchor Road. system onto Commerce Street and right onto The Strand. After a brief stop we ran down the Strand and under the railway line onto King Street. We continued down through Fenton and forwards onto City Road. We went past KFC and we got up and got off at the Travers Court bus stop outside the block of flats. We crossed over the road and we headed onto Smithpool Road and we visited the chip shop to get dinner. AFter we had brough the food we walked back along Smithpool Road and turned right onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. We went upstairs nd Matthew had his dinner. It was sausage chips and gravy washed down with a can of Coke. Afterwards Matthew went for a walked onto Smithpool Road and onto Wheildon Road past the The Regent pub which is new children's nursery. We headed towards Heron Cross and we went into the park. There is a new building in the park. We walked anti-clockwise around the pool and we walked back onto Smithpool Road. We turned right onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. Matthew went upstairs to chill out in his room whilst he waited for me to pick him up. I arrived around 15:00 and Matthew came downstairs with his presents for us and put them in the car. We set off on foot to the bus stop and as we walked down we saw a bus approaching. It was First Potteries 67157 on a #11 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67157 in Fenton

We got on the bus and we booked to Newcastle before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off down City Road and we ran down the hill over the old railway line to Leek and onto the A52. We ran under the railway line and over the A500 and straight into Stoke town centre. along Church Street. After a brief stop in Stoke we continued along church Street and forwards onto Hartshill Road. We ran up the hill and into Hartshill. We ran forwards onto George Street and we ran down the hill into Newcastle. We turned left at the roundabout onto Barracks Road and into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. We had a look around and to see what we might catch. We saw First Potteries 63175 on a #4 to Audley.

First Potteries 63175 in Newcastle bus station

We were tracking First Potteries 35942 on a #25 to Hanley. Whilst we were waiting First Potteries 35939 came into the bus station running out of service.

First Potteries 35939 in Newcastle bus station

Also seen was First Potteries 67178 on a #99 to Chell Heath.

First Potteries 67178 in Newcastle bus station

A short time later First Potteries 35939 became a #25 to Hanley. We got on the bus and we booked to the Hospital. The lower saloon was empty so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 35939.

Inside First Potteries 35939

We went upstairs and the top deck was empty too, so Matthew took another picture inside of First Potteries 35939 before we sat down.

Inside First Potteries 35939

We set off out of the bus station onto Barracks Road and we saw First Potteries 65042 on a #22 to Longton. We ran Southwards onto the A34 and we got up and got off the bus by the Cherry Tree. We got off the bus and Matthew took a picture of First Potteries 35939 as it continued towards Hanley.

First Potteries 35939 in Newcastle

We walked up to the hill towards grandma's. At Grandma's Matthew had toast and a can of Irn Bru. When it was time to go we said goodbye to Grandma and we got in the car. We set off just before 18:00 and we ran down Victoria Street. We turned left onto the A34. We continued southwards into Trent Vale past the site of a new Greggs. We continued through Trent Vale and we stopped at the pub. We walked into the pub and we sat down at our one our normal tables. Matthew had a brunch with oatcakes followed by toffee sponge pudding with ice cream. Highlights of the bus sightings included First Potteries 37146 on a #101 to Hanley and First Potteries 65039 o a #101 ton Stafford. Once we had finished eating we got in the car and we set of along the A34 through Hanford and into Trentham. We turned left onto the A5035. We crossed over the railway line and into Blurton. We got back around 19:00. Matthew chilled out on his computer and we sorted a few things out. We watched the England match and we shared a large custard tart. We wrote the Blog and sent a couple of e-mails. We chilled out on the sofa until bedtime around 00:00... Mark