Trip to Walsall / Bloxwich 10-12-2022

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3301	Walsall St Pauls BS	Walsall Wood, Occupation Road	10	National Express West Midlands
4125	Walsall Wood, Occupation Road	Walsall St Pauls BS	10	National Express West Midlands
30923	Walsall St Pauls BS	Bloxwich, Wolverhampton Road High Street	31	Rotala Diamond
11	Bloxwich, Bloxwich Park (Stop BC)	Brownhills, High St	23	Walsall Community Transport
4348	Brownhills, Raven's Court	West Brownhills, Howdle's Lane	10	National Express West Midlands
4125	West Brownhills, Howdle's Lane	Rushall, Rosedene Close	10	National Express West Midlands
32258	Rushall, Rosedene Close	Walsall St Pauls BS	35A	Rotala Diamond

Today we decided to stay reasonably close to home. I suggested to Matthew that we went to Walsall and he agreed. Research consisted of checking the weather. It was for a cold dry day, with a small chance of a snow shower. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and apple juice for breakfast. We got ready to go out and we left arounbd 11:50. 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 continued down Wheildon Road and we joined the Northbound A500. We turned right onto City Road so that we could joined the Southbound A500. We joined the Southbound A500 and we ran Southwards through Hanford down to the M6. We joined the Southbound M6 and we headed through Staffordshire. Travelling down the motorway we saw 2 unidentified Edwards coaches, 3 unidentified Turners coaches, 2 unidentified Lakeland coaches, an unidentified Laser Travel coach, an unidentified Keeplings Travel, white minibus DP17 TBY and grey minibus SH69 EOU. We came off the M6 at junction 12 and we joined the Eastbound A5. We went for a couple of miles before stopping at the Truckers Rest truck stop. Matthew went to the toilet and mum ordered dinner for us. For dinner Matthew had a full English breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. We got back into the car and we re-joined the Eastbound A5. We headed Eastward to the other end of Cannock. We stopped at the petrol station on the corner of th A4601 and we put in a small amout of petrol. We got back onto the A5 and we crossed the M6 Toll and joined the southbound A34. We ran through Landywood and Newtown and through Bloxwich. We continued along the A34 right to the edge of town and we joined the Eastbound A4148. We turned right onto Stafford Street and we ran forwards onto St Pauls Street. We hoped to use the Hatherton Road short stay car park. We ended up doing a few circuits of that part of town. Hatherston Street, Albert Street, Wisemore and back onto St Pauls Street. We did another circuit and we stopped at the car park by McDonalds. We said goodbye to mum and we walked along Wisemore and we turned left onto St Pauls Street. Before we got to the bus station we saw Diamond BT20 ZPW parked near to the bus station.

Diamond BT20 ZPW in Walsall

We continued around the corber onto Hatherston Road to see what was parked up on layover. As we headed up to a distant double decker we saw National Express West Midlands 4125 depart on a #10 to Brownhills West. A few yards up the road we saw National Express West Midlands 4573 on ayover in between runs on the #10 to Brownhills West.

NX West Midlands 4573 in Walsall

We walked back along Hatherston Road past Rotala Diamond 21238 which was on layover in between runs on the #74 to Gillity Village. we walked into the bus station and we saw National Express West Midlands 2123 on a #8 to Lichfield.

NX West Midlands 2123 in Walsall bus station

A few moments later we saw Rotala Diamond 30880 on a #35A to Druid's Heath.

Rotala Diamond 30880 in Walsall bus station

Initially we waited at the stop in the centre platform, but there was a broken down double decker blocking the way. When National Express West Midlands 3301 came into the bus station the bus and the passenger were directed over to Stand B where the #31 usually departs from. We got on the bus and we booked nBus day tickets at £4.20 each before going upstairs and sitting down. When it was departure time the bus set off out of the bus station and on to Hatherton Street and forwards onto Hatherton Road.We turned left onto Lichfield Street and we turned left at the roundabout. We ran Northwards along Lichfield Road and we ran through Rushall. We continued into Shelfield and we Northwards into Walsall Wood and we turned left onto the B4152. We got up and get off the bus in order to intercept the ancient Trident. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of National Express West Midlands 3301 as it continued towards Brownhills West.

NX West Midlands 3301 in Walsall Wood

We crossed over the road and we waited for the next Southbound service. We know from the map which bus it was going to be. It appeared that we could have made to the South end of Brownhills High Street but at least we were sure that we hadn't missed it. Whilst we waited we saw another of the ALX400 Tridents. As it got closer we saw it was National Express West Midlands 4360 on a #10 to Brownhills West.

NX West Midlands 4360 in Walsall Wood

A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was National Express West Midlands 4125 on a #10 to Walsall as expected.

NX West Midlands 4125 in Walsall Wood

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus day tickets to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down We set off along the B4152 and we turned right on to Lichfield Road. We ran Southwards through Shelfield and Rushall and we ran forwards onto Lichfield Street. We continued onto Bridge Street and into the centre of town and we ran around the South side of the bus station and entered the bus station from the West side. We got up and got off the bus. We had a wander around whilst we decided what to do next. We saw Rotala Diamond 30170 on a #31 to Mossley.

Rotala Diamond 30170 in Walsall bus station

We walked out of the bus station and onto Bridge Street. We saw National Express West Midlands on a #934 to Birmingham.

NX West Midlands 6722 in Walsall bus station

We walked back to the bus station and we saw Rotala Diamond 30923 on a #31 to Mossley.

Rotala Diamond 30923 in Walsall bus station

The bus was ready to go so we had another walk around. We returned to Bridge Street and we saw Walsall Community Transport SF16 JBZ on a #22 Paddock Circular service.

Walsall Community Transport SF16 JBZ in Walsall bus station

We walked back into the bus station and we decided to head up towards Bloxwich. We saw a bus on stand. As it got closer we saw it was Rotala Diamond 30923 on a #31 to Mossley. We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus day tickets to the driver before we sat down towards he back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and onto St Pauls Road. We continued onto Stafford Street and we crossed over the ring road onto the B4210. We continued Northwards for around 2 miles and we veered right onto A34. We ran along the high street and as we were about to turn left onto Wolverhampton Road we saw National Express West Midlands 4348 on a #70 to Walsall. We continued onto Sand Bank and we turned left onto Bell Lane where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Rotala Diamond 30923 as it continued towards Mossley.

Rotala Diamond 30923 in Bloxwich

We walked around the corner onto High Street and we spotted that the Little Dessert Shop was closed until 16:00. We decided to go to a nearby pub for a drink. We went into the pub and Matthew used the toilet. Afterwards we had a glass of Coke. Whilst we drank our drinks we saw some of the Morroco vs Portugal game and we saw Morroce score their goal. When we had finished we headed outside to look for something to catch. We saw Walsall Community Transport 9 on a #25 to Catshill. As we approached the stop it pulled off. Afterwards we saw Walsall Community Transport 11 on a #23 to Brownhills West.

Walsall Community Transport 11 in Bloxwich

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus Day ticket to the driver before sitting down. The last time we had done this service in the opposite direction it was operated by Arriva and was a Dart! We set off Northwards up Park Road before going around the park and head Southwards down the High Street. We turned left onto Victoria Avenue and we crossed over Field Road and we saw a distant Southbound #29 service. We continued along Vallet Road before turning left onto Valley Road. At the end we turned right onto Abbots Street and left onto Green Rock Lane. We turne left onto Livingstone Road before turning left onto Mallory Crescent. We re-joined Livingstone Road and we turned right onto Wolverhampton Road. We continued Northwards onto Lichfield Road and we ran for about 3 miles until we came into Brownhills from the Northern end past the mirrored miner statue. We crossed the roundbout onto High Street and we got up and got off the bus. Once of the bus we crossed over the roas as we knew there was another required Trident on it's way Northwards. About 5 minutes later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was National Express West Midlands 4348 on a #10 to Brownhills West as expected.

NX West Midlands 4348 in Brownhills

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus day ticket to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. We ran along Brownhills High Street past McDonalds and the giant mirrored miner statue and we headed past Brownhills Common where we could see deer in the woods. At the big roundabout we turned right onto the Eastbound A5. We waited at the stop for a few minutes before continuing Eastwards along the A5. We ran Eastwards for about 3/4 of a mile and a further 2 stops and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of National Express West Midlands 4348 as it continued back towards Walsall.

NX West Midlands 4348 in Brownhills

Once we had got off the bus we headed to the shops on Howdle's Lane and we Matthew brough a can of Cherry Coke, a 29p shops own can of cola and a chcolate bar. We walked back to the bus stop and Matthew drank his can of shops own cola. A short time later we saw the bus approaching. As expected it was National Express West Midlands 4125 on a #10 to Walsall.

NX West Midlands 4125 in Brownhills

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus day tickets to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. We set off along the A5 and we turned right onto Chase Road. We turned right onto the B4155 and we ran towards the roundabout with the mirrored miner statue. We turned left on the A452 and onto the High Street. We continued down the High Street and over the canal and we turned right onto the B4152. We ran to into Walsall Wood and we turned right on to Lichfield Road. We ran Southwards through Shelfield and Rushall where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of National Express West Midlands 4125 as it continued towards Walsall.

NX West Midlands 4125 in Rushall

Once off the bus we waited for something else running towards Walsall. A quick look at the timetable and we saw there was a #35A due in a few minutes. A few minutes later we saw a bus approach from the side street. As it got closer we saw it was Rotala Diamond 32258 on a #35A to Walsall.

Rotala Diamond 32258 in Rushall

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus day tickets to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Lichfield Street and we headed Southwards. We crossed over the ring road and we turned right onto Hatherton Street and we ran to the Eastern edge of the bus station. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Rotala Diamond 32258.

Inside Rotala Diamond 32258

We continued into the bus station and we saw National Express West Midlands 2115 on layover.

NX West Midlands 2115 in Walsall bus station

We continued around the South side of the bus station and up the other side. As we headed back towards where we were going to meet mum we saw NX West Midlands 1841 on a #29 to Bloxwich.

NX West Midlands 1841 in Walsall bus station

We walked up St Pauls Street and we turned right onto Wisemore. We turned right onto Little Albert Street and we stopped by the Tesco Petrol station to wait for mum to arrive who had driven out of town to do some shopping. Mum arriver at the perol station and we filled up with petrol and got in the car. We set off onto Little Albert Street and we turned left onto the A4148. We turned right onto the B4210 and we headed Northwards and we headed towards Bloxwich. On the way Northwards and we stopped at the lights by Leamore Lane and we spotted a chip shop in a small retail area. We parked up and I went to get food. Matthew had sausage chips and gravy. When we had finished eating We rejoined the B4210 and we ran Northwards. We ran past Bloxwich North railway station and we ran up to Springhill. We turned right onto the A462 and we ran Northwards for a few miles. We joined the Northbound M6 and we ran through Stffordshire. Returning home up the M6 we saw taxi minibus YY64 UFL, an unidentified Megabus coach, an unidentified Birmingham International coach and silver minibus SF72 ZSZ. We came off the M6 at junction 15 and we joined the Northbound A500 We ran through Hanford and into Stoke. We crossed over the A500 and we headed back South and onto Whieldon Road. We stopped at uncle Dave's to Drop him off and Matthew drank some of uncle Rob's Irn Bru and used the toilet. We update his calendar. We got back in the car and we conrinued along Wheildon Road past the former Regent which is back 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 at the roundabout we veered right onto Church Street. We turned right onto the A5035 and back to Blurton. Later on we did some more of the Blog and wrote an e-mail. Matthew ate a peice of millionaire's shortbread and we chilled out on the sofa until bedtime around 00:00... Mark