Trip to Newstead / Longton 23-12-2024

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
23	Blurton, Magdalen Road	Newstead, Wimbourne Avenue	24	D&G Bus
149	Newstead, Wimbourne Avenue	Longton, The Strand	40	D&G Bus
67178	Longton Interchange	Blurton, opp Ladybank Grove	22	First Potteries

Today Matthew was going back to the residential unit, but first he was going out for dinner. Matthew woke up at 08:00 and had his medication. Matthew got up about 09:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We waited for mum to come home from work and we went out to catch a bus to Longton. We were a bit late setting off and we saw First Potteries 63177 on a #22 to Longton.

First Potteries 63177 in Blurton

As we had missed that bus rather than wait 35 minutes for the next bus, we decided to go for plan B. We continued to the A5035 and we waited for a bus towards Newstead. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was D&G Bus 23 on a #24 to Newstead.

D&G Bus 23 in Blurton

We got on the bus and we booked to Newstead. As the bus was empty Matthew took a picture inside D&G Bus 23 before we sat down.

Inside D&G Bus 23

We set off along the A5035 and we headed towards the traffic lights. As we approached the lights we could see the Longton bus on the other side. We turned right first into Barlaston Road and the Longton bus followed. We turned right into Waterside Drive and left into Wimbourne Avenue. We pulled up at the terminus and we got up and got of the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of D&G Bus 23 before it returned on the #24 to Hanley.

D&G Bus 23 in Newstead

Seconds later we saw our bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was D&G Bus 149 on a #40 to Hanley.

D&G Bus 149 in Newstead

We got on the bus and we booked to Longton. As the bus was empty Matthew took a picture inside D&G Bus 149 before we sat down.

Inside D&G Bus 149

We got on the bus and we booked to Fenton before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Wimbourne Avenue and we turned right onto Waterside Drive. we continued to the end and we turned left onto Barlaston Road. We turned right onto the A5035 and we ran through Dresden. At the end we turned right onto Queens Park Avenue and we ran forwards onto Cocknage Road. We turned left onto Chaplin Road and right onto Belgrave Road. At the roundabout we turned left onto Lightwood Road. We crossed over the A50 and we ran into Longton down The Strand. We decided to get up and get off the bus here as it was close to the cafe where we were going to have dinner. Once off the bus we headed to Britannia Cafe. Matthew sat at the table and I ordered the drinks. A few minutes later mum arrived and I ordered the food. Matthew a had a double bacon and cheese oatcake washed down with a can of Coke. After we had finished eating we decide to catch a bus back to Blurton whilst mum went to pick up a few things from the shops. We walked out of the cafe and we saw First Potteries 67159 on a #11 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67159 in Longton

We walked down The Strand and we stopped at Wrights Pies to pick up a dessert. Matthew also had a can of Coke for later. We cut through to the bus station off The Strand and we waited for a bus back to Blurton. Whilst we waited we saw D&G Bus 6010 on a #1 to Silverdale.

D&G Bus 6010 in Longton Interchange

A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 67178 on a #22 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67178 in Longton Interchange

We got on the bus and we booked to Blurton before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the Interchange onto Baths Road past Tesco and Costa Coffee. We crossed over the A50 onto Foley Road and at the end we turned right onto Longton Hall Road where we saw white minibus LJ09 EAF. We continued down Longton Hall Road 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. We continued along Beaconsfield Drive and ran to the far end where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 67178 before it continued on the #22 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67178 in Blurton

Once off the bus we headed back to the house. We wrote some of the Blog and Matthew had the Manchester Tart washed down with a can of Coke. Matthew hung his new 2025 calendar up ready for next year. Around 16:00 Matthew set off back to the residential unit by car. We set off through Blurton onto Finstock Avenue and we turned left onto Beaconsfield Drive where we saw silver minibus C11 HTC parked up. We turned left onto Church Street and left onto Blurton Road. We went through the traffic lights onto Heron Steeet. We carried on forwards onto Station Bridge Road we saw Walk Ministries SF60 CNC. We turned left onto Christchurch Street and we turned left onto Masterson Street and we saw Stafford & District Community Link OW73 RYR. We turned right onto Watkin Street and we continued onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. We went upstairs to his room and we put all his shopping in his cupboard or in the kitchen. Matthew had a can of Cherry Coke. Matthew chilled out on his computer and watched buses out of the window. We went to Holmes Chapel by Car. We went downstairs and we got in the car. We set off onto Temple Street and we turned left onto Christchurch Street. We crossed over City Road onto Manor Street and we headed onto Victoria Road. We ran down the hill to Joiners Square and we crossed over the roundabout onto Lichfield Street. We ran up the hill to the edge of Hanley and we we joined the anti-clockwise ring road. We went around town anti-clockwise and we ran onto Waterloo Road. We ran through Cobridge into Burslem and we continued through town onto Scotia Road. We turned left onto Williamson Street and at the end we turned right onto Tunstall High Street. We continued through town through Goldenhill into Kidsgrove. We continued North through Church Lawton into Rode Heath and out the other side We passed the Stanway's depot. We continued North to Holmes Chapel along the A50 through Arclid crossroads. We ran into Holmes Chjapel and we turned left onto the A54. We turned left onto Selkirk Drive and we ran down to the leisure centre. Once in leisure centre Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards cafe for food to take away. Matthew had a can of coke. Once he had pickd up the drink we returned to the car. We had finished we got in the car and we set off onto the Selkirk Drive. We turned right onto Chester Road and right onto the A50. We continued through Brereton Green and down towards Brereton. We continued down through Arclid. We ran through Fourlanes End and into Rode Heath. We continued over the A34 and into Staffordshire and we ran under the railway line into Kidsgrove. We ran up the hill into Goldenhill and we continued into Sandyford. We joined Tunstall High Street where we saw City Centre Central KM70 UUZ in the depot. We continued down the Scotia Road and left into the Boulevard. We ran down the hill past the park and we went forwards onto Queens Avenue. We turned left onto High Lane. We ran through Smallthorne & Sneyd Green. We ran into Hanley and onto the ring road. We turned left onto Lichfield Street. At Joiners Square crossed the roundabout onto Victoria Road. Victoria Road and we ran up the hill into Fenton. At the roundabout we turned sharp right onto City Road and left onto Smithpool Road. We turned left onto Temple Street and we went to his room and chilled out. We went upstairs and Matthew had a can of Irn Bru. Matthew spent time in his room watching television and using his computer. Later on Matthew had a bath and then had toast for supper. He then chilled out in his room until bedtime around 23:00... Mark.