Trip to Holywell / Rhyl 12-03-2022

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4550	Saltney, Sandy Lane	Holywell BS	11	Arriva NW&W
4549	Holywell BS	Rhyl BS	11M	Arriva NW&W
4480	Rhyl BS	Rhyl, Derwen Hotel	51	Arriva NW&W
2520	Rhyl, Derwen Hotel	Rhyl BS	36	Arriva NW&W
2496	Rhyl BS	Pensarn, Harts Caravan Park	12	Arriva NW&W
4545	Pensarn, Post Office	Rhyl BS	12	Arriva NW&W

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was going to Holywell and Rhyl. 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 RX18 GZW.

Temple Street Church RX18 GZW in Fenton

Matthwe went into the living room and we saw Afford rent-a-car YS21 JVR.

Afford rent-a-car YS21 JVR in Fenton

Matthew got his face mask and bag and got ready to go. We came around 11:30 and Matthew came downstairs and got in the car. We set off onto Temple Street and we turned left onto Smithpool Road. We turned right onto Wheildon Road and we picked up uncle Dave. We checked the bag and Matthew realised that he had no batteries so we returned to the residential unit to pick them up. We set off onto Wheildon Road and we turned left onto Smithpool Road and we saw Travel Express BG61 KTK. We turned right onto Temple Street and we stopped at the residential unit. We collected his batteries and and we set off onto Temple Street. We turned right onto Smithpool Road and left onto City Road. We ran down the hiull into Stoke and we went under the railway line. We crossed over the the A500. The road were quiet today and we made good time up to the M6. We joined the motorway at Junction 19 and we ran Northwrds through the roadworks section. As we travelled up the M6 we saw Park's of Hamilton LSK 808(#570) & Kier WR17 JFU. We left the M6 at Junction 20 and we went Westwards along the M56. The M56 was a little busier than the M6 but it was still moving well. On the M56 we passed an unidentified Goodsir coach. We joined the Southbound M53 and we ran around the West side of Chester. The M53 became the A55 and after a couple of junctions we jeft the A55 and we headed towards Chester from the South side up the A483. On the A483 we saw Scraggs 1 HVT. We got to the roundabout at Hanbridge and we veered to the left onto the A5104. We ran through Lache out of England and into Wales and we stoipped at Morrisons where we planned to park and have dinner. Matthew went to the toilet and then we went to the cafe. He had a large breakfast washed down with a cup of Coke followed by a slice of lemon meringue pie. Once we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we walked out onto the A5104. We crossed over the road and we waited at a stop on the Westbound side of the road for a bus towards Holywell. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required Arriva NW&W 4550 on a #11 to Holywell. We got on the bus and we booked a Arriva Welsh Area Group Day ticket at £15 for the 3 of us. We sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off along the A5104 and we turned left into the Broughton Shopping Park we continued onto Hawarden. We turned right and we headed a mile or so down the hill past the garden centre and into Queensferry. We crossed under the A494 and we turned left by Asda. A couple of stops towards Shotton. We continued into Wepre and through Connah's Quay. We passed through Oakenholt and we came off the B5129 onto the A548. We then had run up towards Flint town centre and Bagillt. We headed up through Bedol and up over Whelston. As we travelled up we saw Arriva NW&W 2521 on a #11 to Chester. We ran Northwards up the We turned left onto High Street. We turned left onto the A5026 through Whelston. We ran Northwards into the More and we continued up towards Holywell. We crossed the roundabout and we ran up A5026 and into the bus station. Once we got to the bus station we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walked through the shopping arcade onto the A5026. We turned left onto High Street and We went into pub and Matthew used the facilities upstairs. We came back down and Matthew had a small Coke. Once had finished the drink we went back outside and met up with uncle Dave. we set off down High Street. When we had finished we returned to the bus station to wait for the next bus to Rhyl. We saw we saw Arriva NW&W 4549 on a #11M to Rhyl. We got on and we flashed the Arriva Day Saver tickets before we went upstairs and sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off the bus station and onto the A5026. We turned right onto the B5121. We ran through Bryn Celyn. We turned left onto the A5048 we ran through Greenfield and Llannerch-Y-Mor. We turned left onto Hafod-Y-Ddol Road and Glan-y-don. we forwards onto Ffordd Pennant. We turned left onto Mostyn. We continued through Rhewl-Mostyn and left onto Wirral View. We turned left onto the A5048 and we crossed over the Mostyn up Ffynnongroyw. We turned left onto Main Road. We turned left onto the A5048 into Glasdir. We continued through to Tanlan Banks and we we headed up past Talacre and Prestatyn. We turned left onto Bastion Road and we continued right onto into the bus station and onto Bastion Road. We turned left onto Bridge Road and we crossed over the railway line into Sandy Lane. We turned left onto the A5048 into Y-Ffrith and we headed through Rhyl and we ran into town. We ran into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew visited the toilet. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was required Arriva NW&W 4480 on a #51 to Denbigh. We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Day Saver tickets before we went upstairs and we sat down. We set off out of the bus station along Elwy Street. We turned right Wellington Road and we turned right onto High Street. We ran forwards onto Vale Road Bridge. We crossed over the A525 and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walked up to A525 past former pub site which is going to be a a new McDonalds. A short time later we saw the bus approaching. As expected it was Arriva NW&W 2520 on a #36 to Rhyl. We got on and we brought Arriva Day Saver tickets before we sat down. the back of the bus. The bus set off out up the A525. We continued onto Vale Road Bridge and we ran into town. We ran into the bus station We got up and got off the bus. Afterwards, we had a look around to see what we could catch next. we spotted Arriva NW&W 2521 on a #12 to Llandudno. We got on the bus and we booked Arriva NW&W Day Savers before The bus set off out of the bus station along Elwy Street. We turned left onto Kinmel Street. We followed the road around onto Elwy Street. We turned left onto the A548 and we went through Kinmel into Bay Towyn. We continued into Belgrano and into Pensarn and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walked up to A548. We crossed the road and walked to the and Matthew had a bottle of Coke and a bottle of Cherry Coke as well as some chocolate and a box of millionaire shortbread squares. We crossed over the road and we headed to the bus stop. We waited for a bus towards Rhyl. A short time later we saw Arriva NW&W 4545 on a #12 to Rhyl. We got on the bus and we flashed Arriva NW&W Day Saver ticket to the driver for the final time today before we went upstairs and sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along the A548 and we passed through Belgrano and into Bay Towyn. We entered Rhyl and we turned right onto High Street and into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Whilst we decided what to catch next we saw Arriva NW&W 4542 on a #12 to Llandudno. We visited the toilet and afterwards we left the bus station and we crossed along Elwy Street. We walked along Bodfor Street and we met up with mum. We got in the car and Matthew had a can of Coke. We set off along Bodfor Street and we turned right Wellington Road and we turned right onto High Street. We ran forwards onto Vale Road Bridge. We crossed over the A525. We ran down through Rhuddlan and to Pengwern. We decided to stop at The Chippery tea. Matthew had sausage chips and gravy washed down a bottle of Cherry Coke. We ate the chips in the car and when we had finished we set off onto the A525. We got onto the A55 at junction 19. We continued Eastwards thriugh Noerh Wales and we ran forwards onto the A494 at Queensferry. We got onto the Eastbound M56. At junction 9 we joined the Southbound M6. We went Southwards down the A500 and we ran down to the A527 and we continued into Sandyford. We joined Tunstall High Street and then we ran around the town centre and joined the roundabout and straight onto the A5271. We stopped by the police station and we continued down to Scotia Road. We continued to Burslem and we continued along the A50 into Cobridge. We ran down the hill to the edge of Hanley and we went around the ring road. We turned left onto Lichfield Street and we crossed the roundabout onto Victoria Road and we turned onto Manor Street. We turned right onto City Road and left onto Smithpool Road. We turned left onto Temple Street past the new building under construction and back to the residential unit. we went upstairs to his room to chill out and watch buses out of the window. chilled out in his room and used his computer and we did some of the Blog. He also had the rest of the cheesecake. 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 Mold / Chester 12-05-2018

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2662	Saltney, Sandy Lane	Mold BS	4	Arriva NW&W
CN04 NLL	Mold BS	Flint, Opp The Ship	28X	Townlynx
4637	Flint, Adj The Ship	Queensferry, Station Road	10A	Arriva NW&W
4480	Queensferry, Solar Services	Broughton, adj Glynne Arms	11	Arriva NW&W
3141	Brougton, adj Glynne Arms	Chester, Railway Station	4	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to re-visit the Chester area. Since Arriva pulled out of the Chester to Liverpool service, as we usually travel down from Ellesmere Port we have be doing Stagecoach buses in the area recently. We formulated a plan to ride on Arriva buses by start at Saltney. We show this to Matthew on the map and he agreed to the plan. As we were starting in Wales we would also try to go further into Wales in this direction than we had previously travelled. Research for the trip consisted of checking the weather which was forecast for cool, dry weather with some sunshine. Matthew got up around 09:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. After getting ready we set off onto the A5035 and we passed Scraggs coach S50 EXE heading towards Longton. We turned right onto Stanley Matthews Way and we joined the Westbound SA50. At Sideway we joined the Northbound A500. The road were quiet today and we made good time up to the M6. We joined the motorway at Junction 19 and we ran Northwrds through the roadworks section. As we travelled up the M6 we saw Park's of Hamilton LSK 808(#570) & Kier WR17 JFU. We left the M6 at Junction 20 and we went Westwards along the M56. The M56 was a little busier than the M6 but it was still moving well. On the M56 we passed an unidentified Goodsir coach. We joined the Southbound M53 and we ran around the WEst side of Chester. The M53 became the A55 and after a couple of junctions we jeft the A55 and we headed towards Chester from the South side up the A483. On the A483 we saw Scraggs 1 HVT. We got to the roundabout at Hanbridge and we veered to the left onto the A5104. We ran through Lache out of England and into Wales and we stoipped at Morrisons where we planned to park and have dinner. Matthew went to the toilet and then we went to the cafe. He had a large breakfast washed down with a cup of Coke followed by a slice of lemon meringue pie. Once we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we walked out onto the A5104. We saw yellow minibus T49 LCA in an adjacent yard. We crossed over the road and we waited at a stop on the Westbound side of the road for a bus towards Mold. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required Arriva NW&W 2662 on a #4 to Mold.

Arriva NW&W 2662 in Saltney

We got on the bus and we booked a Arriva Welsh Area Group Day ticket at £15 for the 3 of us. We sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off along the A5104 and we turned left into the Broughton Shopping Park. After a brief stop we contined along A5104. We turned right onto the B5125, and we turned right onto Manor Lane. We turned right ointo the industrial estate and we turned around at the roundabout. We stopped outside the garage for a driver change and we saw a couple of driver trainers and a couple of open topped buses. We returned onto Manor Lane and we turned right onto the B5125. We ran through Hawarden and up to Ewloe and we turned left onto Wood Lane. We ran Southwards under the A55 and into Drury. We turned right Drury Lane and then left onto Church Road. At the end of Church Road we turned right onto the A549. We ran into Buckley and we turned left onto Mill Lane. We turned right into Mold Road and we re-joined the A549. At Prenrigog we turned right omnto Park Ave and we ran through the estate and we turned right onto Llewelyn Drive. At the end we turned left onto Bryn Road. We turned right onto Chambers Lane and under the A494. We ran up to New Brighton and we turned left onto the A5119. We ran the last mile or so into town and we went forwards onto the B5444. We turned left and we entered the bus station. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2662.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2662

When we got off the bus there were a couple of other buses in the bus station. In front of us was Stagecoach Merseyside 34812 on a #5 to Ellesmere Port.

Stagecoach Merseyside 34812 in Mold bus station

We also saw Townlynx CN04 NLL on layover.

Townlynx CN04 NLL in Mold bus station

We crossed over to the other side of the bus station and Matthew used the toilet. As it was quiet we decided to go and find a shop. we walked around the corner onto A 5119 and we turned right onto a pedestrianised street with market stalls on. We walked up about 100 yards and we found a McColls on the left hand side. Matthew brought a can of Coke and a small bottle of Irn Bru, as well as a couple of bars of chocolate. We continued up the High Street and we turned right into the B5444. We came into the bus station from the north and we decided to stop for a short while to take a few pictures. We saw dud Arriva NW&W 2620 on a X4 to Chester.

Arriva NW&W 2620 in Mold bus station

Matthew didn't want to do this, he was interested in doing P&O LLoyd YJ12 PML on the #14 to Denbigh. We couldn't really do this bus as it wasn't due off for quite a while and it was also going in the wrong direction. We decided to look for something else to catch. We saw required P & O Lloyd YJ60 KFY which going to work the #8 to Sealand Manor.

P & O Lloyd YJ60 KFY in Mold bus station

That was a bus that we could of done but wasn't due off until 16:00! A few minutes later we saw required Townlynx Y72 YSO on a #28 to Wrexham.

Townlynx Y72 YSO in Mold bus station

A few minutes later we saw required Townlynx DK04 NNB which was going to do the #6A to Pantymwyn.

Townlynx DK04 NNB in Mold bus station

That was another bus that we couldn't do due to going in the wrong direction. There was a prmosing bus to Holywell which was due at 15:35. Across he way we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 47624 on a #63 to Higher Kinnerton.

Stagecoach Merseyside 47624 in Mold bus station

A few minutes later we saw M&H Coaches BU53 DJS on a #2 to Ruthin.

M&H Coaches BU53 DJS in Mold bus station

As few mnutes later we realised that the Dart that had been on layover all the time we had been in Mold was going to work the #28X to Holywell. When the bus pulled up onstand we decided to do this bus. We booked to Holywell which cost b£2.60 each for a single. We sat down towards the back of the bus and the bus set off out of the bus station onto the Northbound A5119. We followed the road to the left and at the roundabout we turned right onto the A5119. We then had a good fast run up towards Flint. We passed through Sychdyn and Northop and under the A55. As we gort closer to Flint we passed Townlynx YX17 NZA on a #28X to Mold. We passed through Flint Mountain and we ran into town. We turned right into Chappel Street and we followed the road around onto Duke Street. We turned left onto the A548 and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took a picture of Townlynx CN04 NLL as it carried on towards Holywell.

Townlynx CN04 NLL in Flint

We crossed over the road and we checked the timetable. There was a bus due in 5 minutes and it was a #11 to Chester. THere was a #10A due 5 minutes after that. Matthew decided he wanted to go to the toilet so he took me into the adjacent pub. Matthew used the toilet and then had a bottle of Coke. We missed the #11 bus whilst we were in the pub and we came out to wait for the #10A. A minute or so later we saw the bus approaching in the distance. As it got closer we saw that it was dud Arriva NW&W 4637 on a #10A to Chester.

Arriva NW&W 4637 in Flint

We got on the bus and we flashed the Group Day Saver ticket to the driver. The lower salonnwas empty som Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 4637 before we went upstairs and sat down.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4637

The bus set off along the A548 and we travelled Eastwards out of Flint town centre. We passed through Oakenholt and we came off the A548 onto the B5129. We continued into Connah's Quay and through Wepre. We passed under the railway at Shotton and we continued to Quensferry. We turned left into Station Road where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4637 as it carried on towards Chester.

Arriva NW&W 4637 in Queensferry

Once off the bus we crossed over station Road andwe used the cash machine. We set off towards the stop by the A494 so we could catch the following #11 towards Chester. On the way we saw P & O Lloyd YJ56 ATK on the Shuttle 1 service to Garden City.

P & O Lloyd YJ56 ATK in Queensferry

We walked to the bus stop and we saw that we had a round 15 minutes to wait. Matthew had a Flake whilst we waited for the bus to appear. The time passed quickly and eventually we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required Arriva NW&W 4480 on a #11 to Chester.

Arriva NW&W 4480 in Queensferry

We got on the bus and we flashed the Group day Saver ticket to the driver before we sat down upstairs. We set off Southwards down the A550 and we passed under the A494. We ran up the hill into Hawarden and we turned left onto the B5125. We ran Eastwards towards BroughtonWe joined the A5104 and we entered the Bfrought Shopping Park. We seemed to stop for a couple of minutes and whilst we were stopped we saw Arriva NW&W 4488 on a #11 to Holywell.

Arriva NW&W 4488 in Broughton

I had already check that the #4 was running right behind us. As we aited to depart it pulled up on the stand behind us. We set off first (thankfully!) and we left Brough Shopping Park onto the Eastbound A5104. We got up and got off the bus and we just had time to take a quick picture before we flagged down the following bus. As it got closer we saw that it was dud Arriva NW&W 3141 on a #4 to Chester Railway Station. We got on the bus and we flashed the Group Day Saver ticket to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along the A5104 and we passed through Salntey and into Lache. We entered Enngland and Chester and at the big roundabout we turned left onto Grosvenor Road. We crossed over the river Dee and we saw that there was a large fairground in town where there are often coaches parked up. We ran forwards onto the ring road and we went past the Roman Amphitheatre. We turned left onto Love Street and right onto Foregate where we saw Arriva 2646 on a #82 to Northwich. We went around The Bars and we ran down City Road to the railway station. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 3141.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3141

In front of us was required Arriva NW&W 1004 on a #1 to Wrexham.

Arriva NW&W 1004 in Chester

We continued down City Road and we crossed over Station Road where we saw Helns 128 on a the City Rail Link bus service.

Helms 128 in Chester

We also saw Stagecoach Merseyside 17470 on the Chester City Sightseeing Tour service.

Stagecoach Merseyside 17470 in Chester

Also by the railway station was Stagecoach Merseyside 47513 on a #5 to Huntington.

Stagecoach Merseyside 47513 in Chester

We went into the railway station and Matthew used the toilet. Mum was still traveling down from Ellesmrer Port, so we decided to visit the shop on the corner of Brook Street. Matthew brought a can of Coke and a cpuple of the small bottles. We watched buses going past for a short while and we watched a train depart towards North Wales. Mum appeared and we got in the car. matthew had a Greggs sausage roll and a bottle of Coke. We set off onto Station Road and we followed the road around onto Brook Street. At the lights we turned sharp right onto the Northbound A56. We left town and we joined the Northbound M53. At the next junction we went Eastwards on the M56. Travelling back along the M56 we saw an unidentified R&J Travel midicoach, Selwyns SEL 853 and an unidentified AR Travel minibus. We came off the M56 at Junction 9 and we joined the Southbound M6. As we travelled Southwards down the M6 we saw AK private hire K19 AKP, an unidentified Furlongs midicoach, an unidentified Hean Travel coach, Selwyns YN11 AYC, 2 x unidentified Ava Coaches, an unidentified Swans Coaches coach, an unidentified Sole Coaches coach & YY17 GPV(came off the M6 and went towards Crewe). We joined the Southbound A500 and we had to stop at the parking area North of the A527 and Matthew was despearte for the toilet. Seen on the A500 was silver minibus SJ59 OTZ, Amans Coaches YD17 WXU & Lucky Seven SV12 VKD. At Sideway We went Eastwards along the A50 We came off the A50 at Longton where we saw Lightning Travel BX04 VKL going towards Heron Cross. We stoped At Z Carz to see what was parked up in the depot. In Willow Row we saw Z Carz PE10 MJK in the comnpound.

Z Carz PE10 MJK in Longton

Also seen was Z Carz Ford minibus DC12 KNG in the corner of the new yard. We went West along the A50 to Heron Cross and we turned left onto Blurton Road. By the BP garage we saw Alfa 64. We continued up to Church Road and we turned right into Beaconsfield Drive and we got back home at 19:30. When we got back for a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a millionaire's shortbread biscuit. We did an e-mail and we wrote some of the Blog. Matthew went to bed around 00:00.... Mark.

Trip to Ellesmere Port / Chester 11-11-2017

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
19572	Ellesmere Port BS	Chester BS	X8	Stagecoach Merseyside
21257	Chester BS	Blacon, The Arches School	1A	Stagecoach Merseyside
21258	Blacon, Blacon Parade	Chester BS	1	Stagecoach Merseyside
34812	Chester BS	Saltney, Sandy Lane Terminus	16	Stagecoach Merseyside
27776	Saltney, Sandy Lane Terminus	Chester BS	16	Stagecoach Merseyside
10831	Chester BS	Chester, Zoo main entrance	53	Stagecoach Merseyside
27256	Chester, Zoo main entrance	Chester, Delamere Street (Stop 3)	1	Stagecoach Merseyside

Today we decided to re-visit Ellesmere Port and Chester. It would be the first time that we had visited Chester since the bus station moved down to the new site on Gorse Stacks. We had checked the weather for today and it was for cool cloudy weather. We gave Matthew a list of places in the North-West and Midlands and from the list he chose Chester and Ellesmrere Port. Matthew got up just after 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off through Blurton around 11:45 and we saw Adams Morey minibus HD17 DDU parked outside the Lambourne.

Adams Morey HD17 DDU in Blurton

We continued up onto Kearsley Way and we turned left onto Beaconsfield Drive. At the end of the road we turned left onto Church Street and past the site of the former Florence Colliery line railway bridge. We turned left at the roundabout onto Blurton Road and we ran through Blurton. t Heron Cross we got onto the WEstbound A50 to Sideway. At the next roundabout we turned right and joined the Northbound A500. As we travelled North up to the M6 we saw Hollinsheads DH11 HOL & Malbank OU14 SVA. At junction 15 we got onto the Northbound M6. Traffic was relatively quiet today, perhaps because there was no Premier League football being played today. As we travelled North we saw an undentified ABC Coach Hire coach, Hollinshead J10 BUS, and unidentified Ffoshelig coach, an unidentified Kingsley Travel coach and an unidentified Festival travel coach. At junction 20 we got onto the Westbound M56. Traveling towards the M53 we saw Easycoach 217 and an unidentified Longmynd Travel coach. We got onto the North M53 and we came of after 2 junctions onto the A5032. We ran trough Ellesmere Port and we turned left into Civic Way, passing Stagecoach Merseyside 19571 on the X8 to Chester. We turned left onto Wellington Road. We parked up near to the market and we went into the building. This time we tried a different tactic to get a table in the market food hall. Mum and uncle Dave found a table whilst I took Matthew to the toilet. When we got back to the food court mum and uncle Dave had found a table. Mum went to order the food and we guarded the chair. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we walked past the shops up to the bus station. As we walked up we remembered that last time we came in February we realised that Arriva NW&W had pulled out of the quality bus partnership on the #1/2 services. That means we we would be doing Stagecoach buses and therefore buying a Stagecoach ticket. We walked around the corner to see Stagecoach Merseyside 27260 on a #2 to Liverpool. We started to walk up towards the Chester bus stop and we saw required Stagecoach Merseyside 19572 on a X8 to Chester.

Stagecoach Merseyside 19572 in Ellesmere Port bus station

We got on the bus and we booked Merseyside Dayrider Plus tickets at £4 each before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus set off out of the bus station onto Wellington Road and we turned left onto Stanney Lane and we ran past The Grace Arms, which was a pub we used to eat at back when we first started to visit Ellesmere Port. We continued down the road for around 1/2 mile and then we turned left into the Coliseum Retail Park. We continued into the adjacent Cheshire Oaks designer outlet and we saw Attain YN14 PLZ, Grayways YR10 HOL, Worleys FC04 LDA, an unidentified Woodcocks coach and an unidentified Slacks coach. We got onto the A5117 and we ran Westwards to the A41. We ran South and where we would normally turn right we went straight on towards Chester Zoo. We turned into the zoo and we saw Maxfield Coaches MXI 3319. We came back out of the Zoo and continued South down the A41. We travelled along the northern by-pass and then we turned right onto the A56 for the run into town. We turned into Station Road and we saw Helms 121 and 128 outside the station on City Rail Link Shuttle services. We turned right onto City Road and we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 47326 on a X1 to Ruthin, Arriva NW&W 1004 on a #1 to Wrexham and 2648 on a X4 to Mold.

Arriva NW&W 2648 in Chester

At the end of City Road we went around The Bars and onto Forgate Street where we saw Arriva NW&W 4216 parked up between services. We continued onto St Oswald's Way and we ran past the end of Frodsham Street before going into the new bus station straight off St Oswald's way. Once we pulled up on a stand we got up and got off the bus. The new bus station was light and airy if a little basic. We went to use the toilets and we were disapointed that the disabled toilets don't use the stand RADAR key so I had to escort Matthew to the Gents. Once we had used the facilities we walked onto the Gorse stacks road side and where the bus stops used to be the bus station had been left open on that side to add to the number of stands in the bus station. On the Gorse Stacks side we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 47712 on a #5 to Huntington.

Stagecoach Merseyside 47712 in Chester bus station

We also saw Arriva NW&W 3142 on a #3 to Mold.

Arriva NW&W 3142 in Chester bus station

As there was nothing else Stagecoach around that we wanted to catch we decided to do a #1 or #1A to Blacon. A few minutes later we saw required Stagecoach Merseyside 21257 on a #1A Blacon circular service.

Stagecoach Merseyside 21257 in Chester bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Stagecoach Merseyside Dayrider Plus to the driver before we saw down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Gorse Stacks and we ran onto George Street. At the end we turned right onto Northgate Street and we crossed over the ring road onto the A5116. We veered left on the one-way system and we ran forwards onto the A540. We ran past Chester University and we hit traffic as we got to the edge of town. Coming the other way we saw white minibus D5 DJJ. At the roundabout after seeing a near miss between two cars we turned left onto Blacon Avenue. We travelled Westwards for around a mile and when we got to the shops we got up to get off the bus. We turned left onto Saughall Road where we got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Merseyside 21257 as it carried on back towards Chester.

Stagecoach Merseyside 21257 in Blacon

Once we got off the bus we walked across to the shops. We went into the Spar shop and Matthew brought a can of Cherry Coke as well as a couple of chocolate bars. Once we had finished shopping we walked over to the stop on Blacon Avenue to wait for a bus back to Chester. A few minutes later we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 21258 on a #1 to Chester.

Stagecoach Merseyside 21258 in Blacon

We got on it and we flashed the Stagecoach Merseyside Dayrider Plus tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Blacon Avenue and we had a long run of around 2/3 of a mile down to a roundabout. This part of the run was peppered with quite severe speed bumps which was doing us and the bus no good at all! We crossed the roundabout onto the A540 and we had another run of around 1/2 mile up to Liverpool Road. We ran around the one-way system and passed the Stagecoach bus depot and into town along Northgate. We crossed over the ring road on Northgate and we turned left onto Delamere Street. We continued down onto George Street and onto Gorse Stacks and into the bus station. Matthew went to the toilet again and then we had a look around at what bus we could catch next. We saw it was Stagecoach Merseyside 34812 on a #16 to Saltney.

Stagecoach Merseyside 34812 in Chester bus station

We got on and we flashed the Stagecoach Merseyside Dayrider Plus tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Gorse Stacks and turned right into Frodsham Street. The road is now a mainly pedestrian street and the bus travels along the stone we pass very close to benches. We turned left into Foregate Street and we saw an unidentified Byley's coach. We turned right onto Love Street and onto Pepper Street. As we went down Pepper Street we saw National Holidays NH10 RSH / NH15 GDH. We continued onto Lower Bridge Street and we turned left onto Old Dee Bridge into Handbridge. We continued onto Overleigh Road and we crossed the A483 where we saw Voel coach FJ08 FYL. We continued along Hough Green and then we turned left onto Cliveden Road where we passed Stagecoach Merseyside 19062 on a #16 to Chester. We turned right onto Circular Drive and we continued onto Green Lane and into Saltney. We turned left Boundary Lane and right onto Victoria Road. We re-joined the High Street and we turned left into Sandy Lane where we got up to get off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Merseyside 34812 as it carried on back towards Chester.

Stagecoach Merseyside 34812 in Saltney

Once we has seen the bus disappear into the distance we walked onto the A5104 to watch buses on the main road. We stood on an overbridge which looked a good place to get bus pictures. We saw Arriva NW&W 4487 on a #11 to Chester.

Arriva NW&W 4487 in Saltney

We also saw Arriva NW&W 3146 on a #3 to Mold. We also saw Arriva NW&W 2620 on a #4 to Chester. We walked back to the stop on Sandy lane to wait for the next bus back to Chester. A few minutes later we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 27776 on a #16 to Chester.

Stagecoach Merseyside 27776 in Saltney

We got on it and we flashed the Stagecoach Merseyside Dayrider Plus tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Sandy. At the end we turned left onto Lane Boundary Lane. We turned right onto Green Lane and then continued onto Circular Drive. We turned left onto Cliveden Road and at the end we turned right onto Hough Green. We crossed the A483 and we continued onto Overleigh Road. We crossed over the Dee along Handbridge and we ran onto Lower Bridge Street. We turned left Grosvenor Street and at the roundabout we turned Nicholas Street. We continued around the ring road along St Martin's Way and we saw National Holidays NH16 FEH. At the old bus station we saw a number of coaches including an unidentified Hollinshead coach.At the roundabout we turned right onto Northgate Street and left onto Roundabout Delamere Street. We continued onto George Street and onto Gorse Stacks before stopping outside the bus station. We got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Merseyside 27776 as it carried on back towards Saltney.

Stagecoach Merseyside 27776 in Chester bus station

We had a walk around the bus station whilst we decided what to catch next. We saw Avon 108 on a #22 to West Kirby.

Avon 108 in Chester bus station

around the other side of the bus station we saw National Express liveried Selwyns coach FJ13 DZZ on a #381 to Leeds.

Selwyns FJ13 DZZ in Chester bus station

A few minutes later we saw required Stagecoach Merseyside 10831 on the X8 to Liverpool.

Stagecoach Merseyside 10831 in Chester bus station

Whilst we waited for the bus to be readied for service we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 19045 on the X2 to Runcorn. A few minutes later we we got on the bus and we flashed the Stagecoach Merseyside Dayrider Plus tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Merseyside 10831.

Inside Stagecoach Merseyside 10831

Whilst we waited for departure time we saw required Arriva NW&W 3143 on a #1 to Blacon. We set off out of the bus station onto Gorse Stacks. We crossed the ring road onto the A56 and we ran past the railway station. We ran North through Hoole and. We turned left onto the A41. We ran North and where we turned right into Chester Zoo where we got up and got off the bus. We waited at the stop and a few minutes later a bus to Chester appeared. It was required Stagecoach Merseyside 27256 on a #1 to Chester.

Stagecoach Merseyside 27256 in Chester Zoo

We got on the bus and we flashed the Stagecoach Merseyside Dayrider Plus tickets to the driver for the last time before we sat down towards the back of the bus. Matthew ate the chocolate bar we had given him just before the bus turned up. We set off up the Chester Zoo We ran South along the A41 and we turned right onto Heath Road. We continued onto Mill Street and we joined the Southbound A5116. We ran into Chester and over the ring road onto Northgate. We turned left into Delamere Street and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Merseyside 27256 as it carried on towards the bus station.

Stagecoach Merseyside 27256 in Chester

Once off the bus we walked up Delamere Street and we turned left onto Upper Northgate Street. We turned right on Hunter Street and we walked back up to the old bus station and we met up with mum. By the time we got to the old bus station the coaches that we had seen earlier had all gone. There was a large crowd waiting by the bike racks. We went to the toilet in the car park and then we went back to the car and Matthew had a Greggs sausage roll and a can of Fanta orange. We set off out of the car park and onto the clockwise ring road and we passed the sight of the new bus station. We went up the We ran up the A56 through Hoole. A41 got onto the Northbound M53. At the next junction we got onto the eastbound M56. It was now properly dark as we ran through the Cheshire countryside. We overtook LDV minibus AE06 NSU somewhere South of Runcorn. Near to Warrington we joined the Southbound M6. As we traveled Southwards we saw Carvers RIL 9162. At junction 16 we joined the Southbound A500. As we travelled South we saw Copeland's Tours MIB 279. At Sideway we turned left onto the A50 and we came off at Longton to see what was parked up at Z Carz. The spare ground was empty and there was a minibus in Lucky Seven. We turned left onto Willow Row to see what was in the compound this evening. In the compound was Z Carz Iveco minibus YJ53 WPD.

Z Carz YJ53 WPD in Longton

We turned around and we saw new Lucky Seven Mercedes minibus VX63 WYK.

Lucky Seven VX63 WYK in Longton

We returned onto the A50 and We ran Westwards and we came off at Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran through Blurton before turning right onto Church Road we saw Lucky Seven LT63 CXN. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive and we got home around 19:00. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. Matthew chilled out on his computer and we did some more of the Blog and out our bus pictures online. Matthew went to bed around 01:00... Mark.