Trip to the Snowdome 25-11-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJX	Cemetery Road, Shelton	Snowdome, Tamworth	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	Snowdome, Tamworth	Cemetery Road, Shelton	Charter	Aiming High

Today Matthew went to the Snowdome with Aiming High. He got up around 09:00 and had some toast and juice for breakfast. It was a sunny and cold day and we set off towards Shelton around 11:15. We headed to Heron Cross before getting on the Westbound A50. At the A500 we headed North until we reached the Shelton New Road. As we headed up Shelton new road we passed 40147 running towards Newcastle 'out of service'. We soon reached our destination on Cemetery Road. And we dropped Matthew off. He got a picture of his bus for the day, Aiming High FJ10 BJX before he got on it.

Aiming High FJ10 BJX in Shelton

They then set off down to the A500 and then headed South. They got on the M6 at Hanford and headed South. they then travelled South to the A449 junction. They then headed back North to a Pub called the catch Corner where they stopped to use the toilet. They got back onto the Southbound M6 which they did to the toll road. They did the M6 toll over to the junction of the A5. They then travelled into Tamworth and to the Snowdome. They had 2 session in the Snowdome doing different activities. It was dark and pictures didn't come out very well. Here is on of the pictures from the first session.

Inside the Snowdome...

After the first session they came out and ate their packed lunches. Matthew also went to the toilet. They then went back into for there second stint before returning to the minibus. As they were about to leave Matthew saw a couple of minibuses which he managed to get pictures of. First he saw Shire Travel International minibus NK51 DKH alongside there bus.

Shire Travel NK51 DKH in Tamworth

This was then joined by another vehicle, Mercedes minibus R582 DYG.

Shire Travel R582 DYG in Tamworth

They then set off towards home. They went back along the A5 and onto the M6. They then went back up the A500 to the Stoke Road junction before returning to Shelton. They got back at 16:05. We apsked Matthew if he wanted to visit Chunky Chicken for his tea as we had the Blog to write this evening. He said yes so we went up to snow hill and parked in the street adjacent to Chunky Chicken. Matthew went the toilet and we had Chicken popcorn and fries. Whilst we were there we saw 4 buses go past. 65035 went past on a #101 service. New First Potteries Solo 53405 was on a #21A and 60060 was on a #21 going into Hanley. We also saw National Express coach FJ11 GMV too. After we had finished eating we headed home. We went down Shelton New Road and then got onto the Southbound A500. We did this to the A50 and then went along Stanley Matthew Way past the Hem Heath pub. We then got home around 17:00. We then wrote the Blog for St Helens and then Matthew had a bath before bedtime...Mark

Trip to the Snowdome 22-04-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
W187 RRE	Heron Cross	John Street, Hanley	Charter	Z Carz
FJ10 BJX	John Street, Hanley	Snowdome, Tamworth	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	Snowdome, Tamworth	John Street, Hanley	Charter	Aiming High
T131 SGA	John Street, Hanley	Heron Cross	Charter	Z Carz

Today Matthew was in respite, but he had also been accepted to go on a trip to the Snowdone with Aiming High. We made arrangements for them to take him to Hanley. In Heron Cross Z carz W187 RRE arrived. A step entranced minicoach with 20 seats. It had a very nice interior, it even had a radio! Matthew would have set off around 09:30 to get to Hanley at 10:00. he had Z carz W187 RRE to Hanley. Scraggs 42 step Entranced minibus 42 was on the #16 to Leek. This was a bus he had been on before when it worked his college transport. In Hanley we saw First Potteries 60011 heading into town. Matthew transfered on Aiming High FJ10 BJX, another bus that he has been on before. He got a picture before he got on.

Aiming High FJ10 BJX in John Street, Hanley

In Hanley was Acton Coaches BXI 33 drove to Shelton. According Matthew the route they took to the Snowdome was through Shelton was Acton Coaches BXI 33 to going Blackpool onto the A500 to Hanford and then on the A34 towards Stone. South of Stone they got onto the A51 and then went through Lichfield to the A5. Matthew saw Arriva Midlands 3728 in Cannock on a #74 service. They stopped for fuel at the Colwich filling station.Harvest Energy. Londis shop for Coca Cola and mint Aero for a snack. They got back on minibus. They then did the short distance into Tamworth and to the Snowdome. They would have arrived just after 11:00. Matthew had a great time on the Snow in Tamworth. He went to the snowplay section of the Snowdome. They also did some ice skating. They also visited Starbucks Coffee lounge for a drink and a cake. Aterward on the way home, we saw the coach Dudleys M750 VYB on the tiny little screen at the front of the coach. we saw Watts Coaches M677 KVU too. we saw Edwards coaches LUI 7923 aswell. He returned back on FJ10 BJX, via Cannock, A5 and then onto the M6. They got back in Hanley around 16:00 where Z Carz T131 SGA was waiting. there are 24 seats in this bus. Someone came to meet him in Hanley where he transfered onto Z Carz T131 SGA inside of this bus again to go back to Heron Cross. He was back in respite by around 16:30 where he had his tea...Mark