Trip to Hanley / Knutsford 17-10-2020

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67151	Hanley, Regent Centre	Hanley BS	23	First Potteries
67659	Hanley BS	Church Lawton, Crewe Road	3	First Potteries
Y722 XHG	Church Lawton, Crewe Road	Knutsford BS	5	Paul's of Stoke
36	Knutsford BS	Wilmslow, Bank Square	88	D&G Bus
28	Wilmslow, Alderley Road	Knutsford BS	88	D&G Bus
26	Knutsford BS	Wilmslow, Bank Square	88	D&G Bus

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was going to his day service. He was also going out on the bus later on. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast for breakfast. before Matthew went to the day centre he watched buses out of the window. whilst waiting for the time to go to the day centre, we saw Temple Street Church minibus RX18 GZW.

Temple Street Church RX18 GZW in Fenton

Also seen was blue minibus DG52 CXP heading towards Stoke.

DG52 CXP in Fenton

Later on we went to Newcastle in the car. We went downstairs to the car and we set off onto Temple Street and we ran down to Smithpool Road. We turned right and then left onto City Road. We ran down the hill to the A52 and we turned right towards the railway station. We went forwards onto Station Road and we turned right onto College Road and we saw First Potteries 44515 on a #23 to Newstead. We ran up the hill through Shelton and forwards onto Cleveland Road. We turned right into The Parkway and we went into Hanley Park and parked in the car park. We walked to the pavillion and we brought a sausage bap and a bottle of Coke. Matthew ate his sausage bap a bottle of Coke. After we ate the food and we walked onto the canal. We headed Northwards up to Botteslow Street and afterwards we headed back to the pavaillion to use the toilet. After spending a while there we walked back to the South East corner of the park. We returned back into College Road. We continued onto Cleveland Road. A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 67151 on a #23 to Hanley. We got on the bus and we flashed the Network Day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Cleveland Road and Regent Road. We turned left onto Lower Bethesda Street and we crossed over the ring road, continuing onto Bethesda Street. We turned right onto John Street and into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we had a quick look around the bus station. We waited for the next Church Lawton bus. A short time later we saw First Potteries 67659 on a #3 to Crewe. We got on the bus and we flashed the Network Day ticket to the driver before sitting 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 went straight across onto Marsh Street. We turned right up onto Trinity Street and we went past the former RBS now a new shop. We turned left onto Stafford Street. After picking up more passenger outside of Debenhams we followed the road around to the left and then back onto marsh Street. At the roundabout we went straight on onto Waterloo Road and we ran up the hill into Cobridge. We continued into Burslem and through the traffic lights onto Scotia Road. We went past the old Burslem PMT garage and we followed the road around to the left onto Williamson Street. At the corner we turned right onto Tunstall High Street. and we continued North onto the A50, past the site of the new Costa Coffee. We ran through Goldenhill and down the bank into Kidsgrove. We ran under the railway line and we passed the site of the new Lidl being built. into Cheshire and we crossed over the A34. We continued into Church Lawton where we got up and got off the bus. Once off. We waited at the bus stop for a bus towards Knutsford. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. It was Paul's of Stoke Y722 XHG on a #5 to Knutsford. We got on the bus and we brought a day ticket before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off along A50 to the right and we veered left onto the A533. We ran through Rode Heath. We continued North to Holmes Chapel and we saw Stanway's VAZ 4815. We continued Northwards to Knutsford. Stanley Road and right into Bexton Road before entering the bus station. We got up and got off the bus. We saw Network Warrington 309. Matthew used the toilet and we returned to the bus station. We walked onto Toft Road and we turned right onto Princess Street. we turned right onto Canute Place. we headed over the Plaza to the Sainsbury's local shop. In the shop we brought a can of Coke and a couple of bars of chocolate as well as a Drumstick lolly. Once we had finished we walked back down Canute Place. We forwards through Princess Street and we passed old Santander site is going to be a new Detaljer. At the top end we turned right onto Toft Road. and into the bus station. We looked up the time of the next #88 bus up to Wilmslow. A few minutes later we saw D&G Bus 36 on a #88 to Altrincham. We got on the bus and we brought a day ticket before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off into the bus station and Bexton Road. we turned right onto Toft Road. We turned left onto the A537. We turned left onto Hollow Lane. We turned right onto Thorneyholme Drive. We turned left onto Manor Park South. We turned right onto Shaw Drive. We turned right onto Boothfields. We turned left onto Higher Downs. We turned left onto Longridge. We turned right onto Knutsford Road. We ran up the hill through Mobberley and up towards Knolls Green. At Lindow End. We ran through Row-of-Trees. We turned left onto Gravel Lane. We turned left onto Cumber Lane. We turned right onto Moor Lane and Chapel Lane. we continued into Wilmslow. We turned left onto Alderley Road. We turned left onto Green Lane. We ran into town along Swan Street and and Station Road. We went past the railway station and we turned right onto Station Road and Swan Street. we continued onto Green Lane where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walked along Green Lane and we cross the road to Starbucks. Matthew had a bottle of orange juice. When we had finished we set off onto Water Lane and we walked up to the Knutsford bus stop. A few minutes later we saw a D&G bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was D&G Bus 28 on a #88 to Macclesfield. We got on the bus and we brought a day ticket before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off into Water Lane. We turned left onto Green Lane. We ran into town along Swan Street and and Station Road. We went past the railway station and we turned right onto Station Road and Swan Street. we continued onto Green Lane. we turned right onto the A538. We turned left onto Alderley Road. We turned right onto Chapel and Lane Moor Lane. We turned left onto Cumber Lane past J Russell Roofing. We turned right onto Gravel Lane. We turned right onto Knutsford Road. We ran through Row-of-Trees. At Lindow End. We ran up the hill through Knolls Green and up towards Mobberley. We turned left onto Longridge. We turned right onto Higher Downs. We turned right onto Boothfields. We turned left onto Shaw Drive and onto Manor Park North. We turned right onto Thorneyholme Drive. We turned left onto Hollow Lane. We turned right onto onto the A537. We turned right into Toft Road. When we got to the bus station. We got up and got off the bus. We looked up the time of the next #88 bus up to Wilmslow. A few minutes later we saw D&G Bus 26 on a #88 to Altrincham. We got on the bus and we brought a day ticket before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off into the bus station and Bexton Road. we turned right onto Toft Road. We turned left onto the A537. We turned left onto Hollow Lane. We turned right onto Thorneyholme Drive. We turned left onto Manor Park South. We turned right onto Shaw Drive. We turned right onto Boothfields. We turned left onto Higher Downs. We turned left onto Longridge. We turned right onto Knutsford Road. We ran up the hill through Mobberley and up towards Knolls Green. At Lindow End. We ran through Row-of-Trees. We turned left onto Gravel Lane. We turned left onto Cumber Lane. We turned right onto Moor Lane and Chapel Lane. we continued into Wilmslow. We turned left onto Alderley Road. We turned left onto Green Lane. We ran into town along Swan Street and and Station Road. We went past the railway station and we turned right onto Station Road and Swan Street. we continued onto Green Lane where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walked along Green Lane. we walked onto Green Lane and mum was waiting for us in the car near to the old entrance to the railway station. Mum was waiting with a sausage roll and a can of Irn Bru. We set off along Green Lane. We turned right onto the A538. We turned left onto Alderley Road. We past near to Alderley Edge and and over Monks Heath crossroad. We continued Southwards through capesthorne and we ran to the West of Congleton town centre and through Talke down to the A500. At Talke we got onto the Southbound A500 and we ran through Longtport and Etruria into Stoke. We came off the A500 in Stoke onto City Road and we went under the railway line. We ran up City Road onto Fenton and we turned right onto Smithpool Road. We turned left onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. Matthew went up to his room. For tea Matthew had sandwiches egg and bacon. Later on Matthew chilled out in his room. Matthew used his computer and watched music videos on the television. When it was time to go to uncle Dave's we went downstairs and we set off onto Temple Street and at the end we turned left onto Smithpool Road. We went across the spare ground onto Willowdale Avenue and onto Whieldon Road and into uncle Dave's. Later on he had a few digestive biscuits and and some Irn Bru. Uncle Dave now has a biscuit tin. Matthew chilled out in uncle Dave's house using his computer and watching television. Uncle Dave also did his DJ set. A couple of hours later staff came to escort Matthew back home. We set off onto Whieldon Road and we turned onto Willowdale Avenue. We crossed the spare ground and we turned left onto Smithpool Road. We turned right onto Temple Street past the new building under construction, which is now getting near to completion. We continued back to the residential unit. Matthew went back to the room and went on 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.

Trip to Blackpool 31-10-2010

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
MIB 270	Brunswick St, Newcastle	Pleasure beach CP, Blackpool	Charter	Copelands
327	Waterloo RD, Blackpool	Central Pier, Blackpool	1	Blackpool Transport
1805	Market St, Blackpool	LTT Works	Charter	Ex Ribble (Pres)
1805	LTT Works	Market St, Blackpool	Charter	Ex Ribble (Pres)
329	Market St, Blackpool	Tesco, Mereside	14	Blackpool Transport
303	Tesco, Mereside	Queenstown, Devonshire Road	14	Blackpool Transport
339	Queenstown, Devonshire Road Hospital	Market St, Blackpool	14	Blackpool Transport
331	Central Pier, Blackpool	South Shore, South Pier	1	Blackpool Transport
MIB 270	Pleasure beach CP, Blackpool	Brunswick St, Newcastle	Charter	Copelands

when we booked this trip, we decided to do this coach from Newcastle. Being a Sunday trip we were able to park in Brunswick Street. We parked up and then waited patiently and required MIB 270 appeared from around the corner. The journey North was relatively uneventfully, except passing a group of Stagecoach single decker osn the M6 also heading north. Shortly after that we passed a preserved double decker heading North. The driver decided we needed a short stop (10 Minutes), so we pulled into Charnock services for a quick toilet and fag break. It also gave Matthew to opportunity to take a picture.


MIB 270 in Charnock Richard service station (Matt)

A few minutes after we arrived in the service station, the preserved double decker arrived along side us. It was former Blackburn Leyland Atlantean 8 (OCW 8X). There were quite a few people on the bus so when one disembarked I asked him where the bus was going. he said it was the buses first out since preservation and that it was on it's way to a Lancashire Transport Trust open day in Blackpool. He told me there were shuttle buses running from the town centre. We decided that we would try and find the buses and travel to the open day. A few minutes later we were on our way and we arrived in the coach park on the South shore half an hour or so later. When we arrived the first thing we did was to find a cafe. The was one a couple of blocks North of the coach park. As far as i can remember we ate a breakfast, and I seem to remember Matthew entertaining the staff in the cafe as he often does wherever he goes. After we ate, We walked onto the prom and started walking Northwards. Mum was getting a bit tired so we decided to all catch a bus along the prom. The next #1 service to appear was worked by Blackpool Transport 327.


327 travels North along the Promenade on a service #1 (matt)

With the exception of mum, we all had Blackpool Transport day rover tickets. We did this bus to Central Pier, as it powered away Matthew took another shot.


327 travels North along the Promenade on a service #1 (Matt)

When we got off we started to walk North along the Prom. We didn't know where to catch the shuttle from, but we had seen a Bristol bus turn by Coral Island. We took a guess as to where the shuttle was running from. We waited outside the tower, but another bus appeared and then went sailing past. So we head further North to try and find out where the bus was going from. After much walking up and down and then asking, we found out that the bus was going from Market Street. We waited for about 10 minutes on the corner of Market Street and then preserved Ribble 1805 appeared to work the shuttle bus. After watching everyone get off we jumped on the bus and sat downstairs near the front. After a short wait, the bus departed for the LTT works, which is near to the Mereside area of Blackpool. When we arrived we got off outside the works. there were a few visiting buses standing outside the works, these were taking turns to work the shuttle service. We went into the works paying a small entrance fee and wandered around the exhibitions. Most of the buses in the works were cordoned off, and there were a dozen or so stalls selling thing to support various preservation projects in the works. Matthew brought a few second hand book and magazines and then we took photographs of the buses that we could get to. After about 15 minutes and a quick toilet stop we had covered the works! We waited for the next shuttle back which was unfortunately Ribble 1805 again. we did the bus because we couldn't really afford to waste any time if we were to go travel on some more buses. When we arrived back at Market Street there was a Mereside bound #14 bus worked by Blackpool Transport 329. We jumped on this and said goodbye to mum who was off to do some shopping. We did this service, which took the route of the old #6 service. I took a picture of uncle Dave's favourite funeral directors 'Box brothers' out of the front window of the bus as we traveled East. When we arrived Matthew got a picture of this bus and we waited for the next #14.


329 at Tesco Mereside (Matt)

After we a while Green Liveried Blackpool Transport 303 appeared to work then next #14. We looked at the timing and we decided to do this to the stop just after the old hospital on Devonshire Road.


303 departs North from Queenstown with a #14 to Fleetwood (Matt)

Whilst we were crossing the busy junction, the townward bound #14 went passed. When we got to the stop we had a bit of a wait for the next bus. Matthew was able to take pictures as we waited. One such picture was Blackpool Tranport 309 on a #9 to Cleveleys.


309 departs North from Queenstown with a #9 to Cleverleys (Matt)

eventually the next Blackpool bound bus was worked by orange liveried 339.


339 on a Southbound #14 in Queenstown (Matt)

We alighted in Market Street again, and Matthew took a few picture whilst we waited a few minutes to meet up with mum. we decided to walk onto the front and walk to the central Pier to catch a #1 to the South shore to catch the coach home. As we walked from market street past the back of the tower, Matthew decided to run into HMV because he wanted to buy a CD! We arrived just south of Central Pier, and it was a fair walk. we didn't realise how far it was! We didn't have to wait long and then Blackpool Transport 331 appeared on the #1 service. We grabbed a few chips and then we walked to the coach park with around 30 minutes to spare. This gave Matthew time to get some pictures, but at this point the light was starting to fade.


MIB 270 in Blackpool Pleasure Beach coach park just before departure (Mark)

The journey home was uneventful. We stopped at Charnock Richard services and we saw a poster "I ♥ coaches" which we photographed. As the driver was talking on the PA coming into Newcastle he hit a pot hole and swore much to everyone's amusement! After we left the coach we got in the car and drove home...Mark