Trip to Northwich / Chester 05-12-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
GA04 GHA	Northwich Interchange	Tarvin, o/s Londis Store	82	GHA
G760 UYT	Tarvin, o/s Londis Store	Chester BS	82	GHA
N8 GHA	Chester BS	Kelsall, o/s Sable Cottage	X20	GHA
S644 KJU	Kelsall, o/s Sable Cottage	Northwich Interchange	82	GHA

Today we decided to re-visit Northwich to try and ride on some of the older GHA double deckers in their fleet. I had the idea when we saw required GHA double decker K129 DAO on the #82 to Northwich back in October 2015. the buses in chester at present are dreadful the new bus station is a big white elephant. The council in chester dont care about the public. We checked the weather for today and it was for cloudy weather with high winds. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:30 and we drove onto Beaconsfield Drive and through Blurton. At the end of Beaconsfield we turned right onto Church Road and right again onto the A5035. We dropped something off on the main road and we continued into Trentham over the railway line. In trentham we passed required First Potteries Dart 42356 teasing us as we were missing it again. We turned right at New Inn Lane and right onto Pacific Drive. We dropped some more stuff of and we got back onto New Inn Lane and we cut across to the A34 via Trentley Road and Allerton Road. We turned Northwards onto the A34 and at hanford we saw MT Travel MK08 OUU. When we got to the A500 we turned Northwards. North of Sideway we started to see vehicle heading to the Britannia Stadium as Stoke City had an early kick off today. We saw Copeland's Tours MIB 229, First Potteries 32079,Scraggs 79 & 1 HVT, Barratt's T9 BCL, Challinor BU03 LYV. We also saw a couple of Belle Vue coaches & I Buses Y773 TNC. We turned Northwards onto the M6 and we came of the motorway at the A54. We went west to Middlewich and we parked up at The Country Kitchen food van to have dinner. Matthew had a breakfast with a butter bap, washed down with a small bottle of Coke. Whilst we were parked up eating Stoke City went two goals up against Manchester City! Once we had finished Eating we carried on Westwards along the A54 for a short distance before joining the A533 for the last 4 miles or so into Northwich. As we entered town we passed the new Waitrose store which has been completed since our last visit. We turned left onto the A559 and we parked up in the car park behind the Seafarer. We said goodbye to mum and we walked onto the A559 were the Interchange is. On stand C was Arriva NW&W 2616 on the #1 circular to Weaverham.

Arriva NW&W 2616 in Northwich Interchange

We then saw GHA single decker 1151 running past out of service.

GHA 1151 in Northwich Interchange

The next service towards Chester looked likely to the dud GHA single decker GA04 GHA.

GHA GA04 GHA in Northwich Interchange

Matthew decided he wanted to go toilet so we walked across the car par in front of the market to the facilities. When he was done I went to the cash machine whilst Matthew and uncle Dave walked over to get a picture of Network Warrington 48 on the #46 service to Warrington.

Network Warrington 48 in Northwich

Also in the Interchange was Arriva NW&W 2502 on a #29 to Winsford.

Arriva NW&W 2502 in Northwich Interchange

We walked back up to stand D and the GHA bus had now been readied for service. We booked GHA Day tickets at £5 each. The driver asked if we were going to Tarvin as the market and festival had been cancelled due the high winds. We sat down towards the back of the bus and we saw dud GHA double decker W465 WGH arrive on the #82. The bus set off right onto Chester Way and then over the river Weaver. We turned left onto the A559 and we headed out of town and past Greenbank railway station in Hartford we saw former London Transport RM1590 which is now a mobile charity shop. We passed Hartford railway station and we joined the A556 for a short high speed run. As we approached the turned we passed required GHA double decker G760 UYT. We turned right into Sandiway and we weaved through the estate and joined the A54. At the petrol station we joined the A556 and we went West until we joined back up with the A54. The road became a dual carriageway an we turned left onto Chester Road to run though Kelsall. In the village we passed required Dart GHA FJ06 URR. We rejoined the A54 and we carried on further West and then we turned left onto Tarvin High Street. We got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of GHA single decker GA04 GHA before it carried on towards Chester.

GHA GA04 GHA in Tarvin

In theory we now had 15 minutes before the bus was due back towards Northwich. We went to the Co-operative Food store where Matthew had a can of Coke and a bottle of Irn Bru. He also had a twin Milky Way and a pack of Curly Wurlies. When we had finished shopping we headed back to the stop at the end of the alley to wait for the bus. 14:30 came and went and no bus appeared. Whilst we waited we saw Arriva NW&W 2619 going towards Crewe and double decker 4102 going towards Chester.

Arriva NW&W 4102 in Tarvin

We saw a notice in the bin by the bus stop and it was a notice of closure for the High Street today between 12:00 and 23:00 for the festival. It would appeared that the event being cancelled means the closure was lift. It occurred to us that maybe not everyone knew the event had been cancelled and drivers were missing the village! We crossed the road to try and get the next Chester bus. Time past and 14:45 came and went... I decided to look on the GHA website to contact them to let them know about the situation, afterall the depot was only around the corner. I rang the number and spoke to someone who said they were going to out me through to the Tarvin depot. The phone rang for around 3 minutes and no one answered. The other people at the bus stop had got off the #84 to catch the #82 because the #84 no longer serves Chester bus station. They had a connecting bus they needed to catch... The X30 to Warrington which was due of Chester at 15:35. I thought the the driver of the next #82 to Northwich was the driver we had earlier, maybe he could flash the driver of the next bus at Kelsall to make sure he come through the village... So that was exactly what I did. I saw GA04 GHA coming the other way and I flagged him down to tell him that 2 other buses had missed the village. The Arriva bus was due at 15:05 and it appeared around 10 late. When it came it was dud Arriva NW&W 2501.

Arriva NW&W 2501 in Tarvin

As Matthew took the picture of the Arriva bus, We saw a GHA double decker approaching. We jogged to the other end of the stop and we flagged down required GHA Northern Counties double decker G760 UYT.

GHA G760 UYT in Tarvin

We got on the bus and we flashed the GHA day ticket to the driver. The lower saloon was empty so Matthew took a picture inside G760 UYT.

Inside GHA G760 UYT

We went upstairs in this bus that is still going strong despite being older than Matthew! The top decker was empty too so Matthew took another picture inside GHA decker G760 UYT.

Inside GHA G760 UYT

We sat down and the party for Warrington had seen us rush backwards for the GHA bus and had decided to do it aswell on the off chance that they made the X30 at Chester. We set off along the high Street and we went back onto the A54. A short journey up the road and we joined onto the A51 for the run into Chester. On the run towards Littleton we passed GHA double decker W465 WGH going the other way. It definitely by-passed the village going the other way... We crossed the A55 and the A41 and we ran into Chester through Vicars Cross. On the left we saw the Dee which looked almost as if it was going to burst its banks. We went around the one way system and onto the ring road. We passed Gorse Stack and the site of the new bus station before going into town under the wall along Northgate. We turned into the bus station after the old cinema and in the distance at the bottom of the road we could see the X30 leaving the bus station down Princess Street. We got up and got off the bus ans we took another picture of the very fine GHA double decker G760 UYT.

GHA G760 UYT in Chester bus station

The plan now was to have 30 minutes in the bus station and then head back towards Northwich. In the mean time we would take a few bus pictures. In the bus station was Stagecoach Merseyside 27261 on the #1 to Liverpool. Adjacent to the GHA double decker was Arriva NW&W 4640 on the #10 to Connah's Quay.

Arriva NW&W 4640 in Chester bus station

As we had some time we went to the toilets in the Market Street car park. The disabled toilet was still broke and so was one of the stall in the gent so Matthew had to wait until one was free. After he used the facilities Matthew queued up to wash his hands... Ironic as there is a locked room full of functioning sinks adjacent to the janitor room. We walked back out into the bus station and Matthew sat on his usual perch. As we got there we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 34809 on a #53 to Kingsway.

Stagecoach Merseyside 34809 in Chester bus station

A few minutes later we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 47034 on a #51 to Plas Newton.

Stagecoach Merseyside 47034 in Chester bus station

At the top of the bus station we saw a step-entranced GHA single decker come into the bus station. It was dud GHA Volvo N8 GHA on the X20 to Middlewich.

GHA N8 GHA in Chester bus station

We had forgotten about that service. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do the single decker or wait for the next service on the #82 and he chose to do the X20. This was a bus that we first had back in January 2015 on the X81 from Hanley to Talke. We got on the bus and we weren't exactly sure of the route so we booked to Middlewich. I looked up the timetable and we saw that it was going through Kelsall. So we decided to do it to the and catch the #82 forwards. We set off out of the bus station down Princess Street and as we were leaving the bus station we saw a coach in Johnson Bother livery that was under new ownership. We joined the ring road. We passed TK Travel coach KT64 TKT and we headed back into town down Northgate. On Delamere Street we saw another 2 coaches... The rear of the two coaches was LL Travel YN13 GFV. As the bus in front was empty Matthew took a picture inside GHA Volvo N8 GHA.

Inside GHA N8 GHA

At the bottom of Gorse Stacks we turned left into Frodsham Street and then left again into Foregate Street. We stopped to take on more passengers and then we went forwards onto the A51. We travelled through Vicars Cross and then we crossed the A41 and the A55 and went into Littleton. We passed GHA Dart FJ06 URR which was going into Chester on the #82. We assumed that this would be our bus back to Northwich. We carried on along the A51 until we got to the split and then we went left up the A54. We by-passed Tarvin and we went up to Chester Road were we turned right and entered the village of Kelsall. We passed the Co-operative food store and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of GHA Volvo N8 GHA as it carried on towards Middlewich.

GHA N8 GHA in Kelsall

Once we got off the bus we had a look at the timetable board. The bus to Northwich was due in 15 minutes. We wouldn't have time to visit to Co-op, so we raided the trip bag and Matthew had a Milky way and a bottle of Cherryade. We thought the bus was going to be the required Dart, and we also thought it may be late as we passed it on the A51 near to Littleton. When we saw a double decker approaching and it was on time we were surprised. As if got closer we saw it was required GHA Northern Counties double decker S644 KJU!

GHA S644 KJU in Kelsall

We got on the bus and we flashed the GHA Day ticket to the driver for the final time today. We went upstairs and sat down and the bus set off along the Chester Road Eastwards towards the A54. We joined the main road and then we ran up to the petrol station were the road forks. We took the A556 and we went towards Sandiway. We turned left onto the got Northbound Road before going through the housing estate. The bus emptied out a little and Matthew took a picture inside GHA double decker S644 KJU.

Inside GHA S644 KJU

We passed G760 UYT going the other way. When we got to the A556 we went left and ran fast up to the A559. We went past Hartford railway station and we could see a white Mercedes minibus Y556 KSC parked on the other side of the railway. We continued Eastwards past Greenbank railway station and we the saw Arriva NW&W 2616 on the #1 to Weaverham again. We went into town past the back of the Waitrose store and we pulled up outside stand D to see mum waiting for us. We got off the bus and Matthew got another better picture of GHA double decker S644 KJU.

GHA S644 KJU in Northwich Interchange

Once we met up with mum we walked over to the car park and mumhad Greggs sausage rolls and Irn Bru waiting for Matthew. Once we settled in the car we left town eastwards along the A559. we passed GHA 1151 on a #45A to Northwich and Network Warrington 42 on a #46 to Warrington. We went forwards off the A559 onto the A556 and we ran the last 4 or 5 miles to the M6 junction 19. At the M6 we went South and we caught up with coach Middleton HX07 TYF.

Middleton HX07 TYF on the M6

We carried on South and came of the motorway at junction 16. We went down the A500 through Stoke and we went Eastwards onto the A50 at Sideway. We came off the A50 at Longton to go and check out what was parked up at Z Carz tonight. In the front row we saw Z Carz Volkswagen minibus OV05 WSW. .

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

Next to the Volkswagen minibus OV05 WSW was Z Carz Ford minibus T418 WYJ.

Z Carz T418 WYJ in Longton

In the second row was Z Carz Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

We turned left into Willow Row to see what was parked up in the compound. In the compound tonight was Z Carz Ford minibus LG09 JVX.

Z Carz LG09 JVX in Longton

We headed back onto the A50 so that we could go to the Tesco petrol station. On the way we saw First Potteries 60171 on a Longton bound #22 service. We filled up at the petrol station and then we got back onto the Eastbound A50 and we saw Crystal Shandelles former PMT double decker G759 XRE. We joined the A5035 and we ran through Dresden to Blurton. We got home around 18:20. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 23:45... Mark

Trip to Joiners Square / Trent Vale 27-11-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
DV10 JCU	Blurton	Fenton	Charter	Shelton Care Group
DV10 JCU	Fenton	Joiners Square	Charter	Shelton Care Group
DV10 JCU	Joiners Square	Blurton	Charter	Shelton Care Group
53405	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trent Vale, opp Alder Walk	22	First Potteries

Today Matthew was going to the pub for his tea, but not before he had been to his day service. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Just before 09:00 his transport to his day service turned up and it was Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU.

Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU in Blurton

The bus set off onto the A5035 and left towards Longton. We crossed the A50 and we went down the Stand before turning right onto Market Street. We turned left onto Anchor Road and up to the Adderley Green. We turned left towards Bentille and we went to the respite unit to pick up another service user. We then headed back to Adderley Green. We turned right onto Anchor Road and near to the bottom we turned right again onto Upper Cross Street. We worked our way through the back Streets and onto King Street. We carried on into Fenton and onto City Road before turning left into Glebedale Road and to our destination. In the morning Matthew went into the sensory and spent time using a computer. We went to fetch dinner from the chip shop. For dinner he had sausage chips and gravy from the chips shop. In the afternoon we went to the pub in a Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU. We set off onto Glebedale Road and we went Straight across City Road onto Fountain Street. We turned left onto William Street and right onto Manor Street before going right again onto Victoria Road. As short way down the road we turned right into Fenton Industrial Estate along Dewsbury Road. We turned around and we went back onto Victoria Road and onto Manor Street again. We turned left onto City Road and at the bottom near to the railway we went right onto the A52. We went past the railway station along Station Road and then right onto College Road. We followed the Road up and onto Regent Road. we saw GHA single decker N8 GHA on layover waiting for the return X81 to Winsford. We carried on to the end and then right onto Lichfield road and to our destination. Matthew went to the toilet and then had a drink of Coke. Highlights of the bus sightings included First Potteries 63177 on the #6 to Meir.

First Potteries 63177 in Joiners Square

Matthew listened to the Jukebox with tracks including Duran Duran, Elton John and Eagles. When it was time to leave we got back aboard Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU. We set off Up Lichfield Street and then left onto Regent Road. We continued onto College Road and then then left onto Station Road. At the traffic light we went forwards onto the A52 and then left onto City Road. We turned right onto Smithpool Road and left onto Temple Street. At the end of Temple Street we turned right Christchurch Street and then to our destination. After a short break we went onto Bentilee to drop off another service user. We went onto Glebedale Road and then right onto City Road. We continued straight onto King Street before turning left onto Clarence Road. We weaved through the back streets on Longton and we joined Anchor Road along Wood Street. At the top of Adderley Green we went left towards Bentilee and we dropped off the service user. We returned through Bentilee and we saw Scraggs YJ05 JXS new to Scraggs on a #80 to Bentilee. We went to Adderley Green and back down Anchor Road into Longton and around the one way system. We crossed over the A50 and onto the A5035. We turned right onto Ripon Road and onto Finstock Avenue before getting home around 15:00. When Matthew got home he had toast and cherryade whilst we waited for time before we went out. Today we decided to go on the 16:30 service towards Newcastle. We set off around 16:25... We were a little late today. It was raining heavily when we set off. We walked to the stop all the way over on Magdalen Road and as we approached the stop the bus rounded the corner. We turned to see it was required First Potteries 53405.

First Potteries 53405 in Blurton

We got on the bus and we booked to Harpfields Road. Matthew honked the horn on this Solo... We sat down towards the back of the bus and we set off towards the A5035. As the bus in front was nearly empty, Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 53405.

Inside First Potteries 53405

We turned right onto the A5035 and we crossed the railway line into Trentham. It was raining hard now and we had to shut the window as we were getting soaked by rain! We turned right into New Inn Lane and we went into Hanford. We went down Church Lane ane we joined the Northbound A34. We crossed under the A500 and into Trent Vale and when the bus bus turned right, we got up and got off the bus opposite Alder Walk. We set of back down Harpfields Road and we saw First Potteries 60069 on a #22 to Longton. We joined the A34 and near to the pub we saw First Potteries 53120 on the following #22 to Longton.

First Potteries 53120 in Trent Vale

We stood outside the pub for a few minutes not realising that mum was already in the car park. We walked with mum into the pub and we sat down near to window... Matthew had a brunch with bread and butter followed by toffee sponge pudding with ice cream. Whilst we ate highlights of the passing buses were ABC Supreme BV51 BNZ / P881 RND on a staff shuttles and Stanton's of Stoke YKZ 6759 going Northwards. After we had finished eating we went to the car and Matthew called uncle Dave to tell him we were on the way. We saw ABC Supreme BV51 BNZ going Northwards toeards the hospital. We set off down the A34 and we went onto the Northbound A500. The A500 was busy, but only on the junction towards the A50. We went straight past Sideway and towards the Stoke turning. We saw GHA coach YN54 OAU and D&G 157 on the X14 to Trentham Gardens. At Stoke we headed back into Fenton. After picking uncle Dave up we went back up to Heron Cross and we saw First Potteries 53058 on a #23A and Copeland's Tours MIB 536. We turned right at the traffic lights and over the A50 into Blurton. We travelled through Blurton along Blurton Road were we passed First Potteries 53208. We went onto Church Road and right into Beaconsfield Drive and we got home just after 18:00. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:00... Mark

Trip to Talke / Trent Vale 02-01-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
53829	Blurton, adj Ladybank Grove	Hanley BS	23	First Potteries
N8 GHA	Hanley BS	Talke, Opp Congleton Road	X81	GHA
66308	Talke, Adj Newcastle Road	Newcastle BS	4A	First Potteries
66310	Newcastle BS	Trent Vale, adj Black Lion BS	22	First Potteries

Today Matthew was off from his day service, so we decided to take this opportunity to ride on the X81 service. Matthew got up around 12:00. He has some toast and orange juice. I asked him if he wanted to do a few extra buses today and he said yes. We worked out what we were going to do and when we had to leave the house. We set off at around 13:40 and walked all the way to the bus on Beaconsfield Road. We saw First Potteries 66310 going towards Newcastle on the #22 and then First Potteries 60072 on the #22 to Dresden.

First Potteries 60072 in Blurton

Going towards Newstead on the #23A was First Potteries 53208.

First Potteries 53208 in Blurton

A few minutes later a Solo rounded the corner and it was dud First Potteries 53829.

First Potteries 53829 in Blurton

We got on the bus and booked to Hanley. There was only one passenger on the bus at this point and they were sitting near to the front, so Matthew got a picture of the inside of First Potteries 53829 too.

Inside First Potteries 53829

The bus set off through Blurton and onto Blurton Road. We headed through heron Cross and onto Heron Street. On the corner by the railway line there was a smashed up car. We carried on and turned onto left onto Christchurch Street. We turned left onto City Road and then down under the railway line and into Stoke. After a brief pause in Stoke town centre we went around the one way system and onto Glebe Street. We went under the railway and turned left onto Station Road. By the railway station we passed First Potteries 41494 on a #3 service. We went up Cauldon Road and we passed Hind Street we saw GHA single decker N8 GHA parked up ready to the X81 later... We crossed the ring road and we entered the bus station via Bethesda Street and John Street. After using the toilet we realised that we had almost 30 minutes so there was time to go to the car park to take bus pictures. Matthew bumped into one of the staff members from his day service and we stopped to have a quick chat. We carried on towards the car park and as we crossed the road we saw Scraggs YJ59 GHH entering the bus station on the #50 from Longton.

Scraggs YJ59 GHH in Hanley bus station

We entered the car park and went upstairs. One of the first buses we saw was required First Potteries 40805 on the #7B to Biddulph.

First Potteries 40805 in Hanley bus station

This was followed dud (for Matthew) First Potteries 40029 on a #23A to Newstead.

First Potteries 40029 in Hanley bus station

We then saw required First Potteries 60174 running out of service.

First Potteries 60174 in Hanley bus station

We also saw Bakerbus 267 on a #9 to Biddulph.

Bakerbus 267 in Hanley bus station

Bakerbus service buses are soon to history as D&G are taking over these operations... We then saw First Potteries 37157 on a #3 to Madeley.

First Potteries 37157 in Hanley bus station

First Potteries route branded Scania 65001 was being used on it's correct route of #18 to Leek.

First Potteries 65001 in Hanley bus station

On a #16 to Leek was dud Wardle Transport 3601.

Wardle Transport 3601 in Hanley bus station

Wardle Transport 3601 is high mileage bus as we have had this from Sudbury to Fenton on the old X50 back in April 2014 just before the service finished. On a #3 to Newcastle was dud First Potteries 66838.

First Potteries 66838 in Hanley bus station

We had that bus last time on the 27th December. It was time to walk back to the bus station before the X81 arrived. We got back with a few minutes to spare. There was a reasonable crowd waiting to catch this service. When the bus arrived it was as expected GHA step entranced Volvo single decker N8 GHA.

GHA N8 GHA in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and booked to Talke. We sat down near to the back of the bus and the bus set off out of the bus station and onto the ring road. We went towards Festival Park and the onto the A53. At Basford we headed onto the Northbound A500. Matthew then took a picture inside N8 GHA.

Inside GHA N8 GHA

The bus carried on up the A500 and we came off at the A34. We then carried on North for another couple of miles or so until we got close the the Caudwell Tavern. We got up and got off the bus and we got another picture of GHA single decker N8 GHA before it carried on Northwards.

GHA N8 GHA in Talke

We had just under 20 minutes to wait for the next Newcastle bound #4A. We had just see a service going towards Kidsgrove so we waited for over bus in the sunshine. It was cold as it was about to go dark. Just before our bus came we saw First Potteries 66839 on a Kidsgrove bound bus.

First Potteries 66839 in Talke

A minute or so later we could see a Cherry branded bus at the bottom of the hill. As it got closer we saw it was required First Potteries 66308.

First Potteries 66308 in Talke

We got on the bus and booked to Newcastle before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off up the hill and we turned left into the housing estate. We came out on the High Street and as the people behind us got off Matthew took a picture of the empty rear of the bus.

Inside First Potteries 66308

the bus carried on down the High Street and we then turned right and diverted into the Freeport before carrying on South. We crossed the A500 and we headed into Red Street. We continued South into Chesterton and then we turned left onto Wolstanton Road before we turned right onto the A34. We went South past the depot where we could see First Potteries 34311 and 30031 parked up towards the back of the depot. We diverted onto Liverpool Road and then onto the Ryecroft before going down Barracks Road and turning into the bus station. We got off the bus and we saw required First Potteries 60069 on a #22 to Dresden. Not to worry, we were going to catch the 16:05 extra #22 that runs as far as Trentham Mondays to Fridays. Whilst we waited we took a few pictures. Between duties was dud Wardle Transport 2356,

Wardle Transport 2356 in Newcastle bus station

Also between duties was dud First Potteries 43877.

First Potteries 43877 in Newcastle bus station

On a #101 service was required First Potteries 65027.

First Potteries 65027 in Newcastle bus station

On a #3 was required First Potteries 66313.

First Potteries 66313 in Newcastle bus station

On the soon to be finished #33 service was Wardle Transport 2259.

Wardle Transport 2259 in Newcastle bus station

On a #164 from Market Drayton to Hanley was Arriva Midlands Optare Versa 3698.

Arriva Midlands 3698 in Newcastle bus station

I would appear that there was a Saturday service operating today as the 16:05 never came. At 16:10 the next bus came in and it was dud First Potteries 66310.

First Potteries 66310 in Newcastle bus station

After a driver change the bus loaded up and we booked to Trent Vale. We sat down near to the back of the bus and the bus set off out of the bus station onto barracks Road. We went South on the A34 before turning into the hospital. after traveling trough the hospital we came out onto Hilton Road and we did this forward onto Harpfields Road. At the other end of Harpfields road we re-joined the A34 and we got up and got off near to the pub. Matthew got another picture of First Potteries 66310 as it carried on towards Dresden.

First Potteries 66310 in Trent Vale

We met mum and Matthew had a brunch with bread and butter followed by toffee sponge pudding with ice cream. Whilst we ate the highlights of the passing buses was First Potteries double decker 32627 on a #101 to Hanley. After we had finished eating we called Uncle Dave and we went to pick him up. We drove along the A34 and onto the Northbound A500. We went East at the A50. We came off the A50 at Heron Cross and we dropped into Fenton. After we had picked up uncle Dave, we headed up to Heron Cross and through Blurton, getting home around 18:40. Matthew then chilled out watching bus videos and using his computer before bedtime around 00:00... Mark