Trip to Trent Vale 23-08-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
30033	Blurton, opp Ladybank Grove	Trent Vale, adj Woodlands Road‎	22	First Potteries

Today we didn't have anything planned, but viewing 30033 on the #22A service i thought we could use to it to go out for dinner. The bus was dues to work the 13;05 from Longton to Newcastle, so I thought we would do it to Trent vale so that we could have a late dinner at The black Lion. Matthew got up just before 09:00 and he had some toast and orange juice for breakfast. I viewed 30033 at 11:15 on my way home from work. Matthew got dressed and as we ad a bit of time we set off to the stop on Beaconsfield Drive around 13:05. As we waked to the stop we saw 2 of the 3 buses that work on the #22. First Potteries 40010 was heading towards longton and 40020 was heading towards Newcastle. We got to the stop and realised the batteries in his camera were flat. We didn't have time to go home and back so we called mum to fetch some batteries and meet us at the bus stop. We didn't tell her which stop we were at. She did eventually find us and after a quick battery change we saw Wardle Transport 2409 at the stop on the #46 to Hanley with a recently fitted LED display.

Wardle Transport 2409 in Blurton

We then spotted First Potteries 53405 on a #23 service with a faulty display.

First Potteries 53405 in Blurton

A couple of minutes later first Potteries 30033 appeared at the top of Beaconsfield Drive and Matthew got a picture as it approached.

First Potteries 30033 in Blurton

We got on and booked to Trent Vale. Matthew took a picture inside as the downstairs was empty.

Inside First Potteries 30033

we went upstairs and that was empty too. He took another picture and we sat down to enjoy the journey. Matthew insisted on sitting on the original red and grey zig-zag seats! We set off through Blurton and onto the A5035. We turned onto New Inn Lane and passed the third #22 bus which was First Potteries 40017. We carried on into Hanford passing former Chesterbus Dart First Potteries 41070. On Church Lane we passed the final #22/22A turn which was being worked by First Potteries 40018. We crossed over the A34 and headed under the A500. After we passed the Black Lion we got up to get off the bus. After another quick picture of an original seat downstairs we jumped of the bus and Matthew got another picture of this fine beast which is only a few days shy of its 24th birthday!

First Potteries 30033 in Trent Vale

We walked back down the road to wards the Black Lion, crossing over the road before we got there. For some strange reason we had got there before mum so we sat on the wall to wait for her. Whilst we were there we saw First Potteries 40148 running empty presumably on test, and then we saw red and yellow #26/26A branded Scania Omnicity 65026 on the Northbound #101.

First Potteries 65026 in Trent Vale

Mum appeaerd from the wrong direction, she had been to a shop so she didn't have to wait for us. We went into the Black Lion and Matthew had his usual 2 sausage, egg, chips and beans with bacon and bread and butter. For afters he had toffee sponge pudding and ice cream. after we had finished eating we set off home via Z Carz in Longton. We joined the A34 and then turned left onto the A500. We the joined the A50 which we did up to Longton. First in the row was W344 WNS which recently had its decals removed.

Z Carz W344 WNS in Longton

Next was their newest coach, ALZ 8539.

Z Carz ALZ 8539 in Longton

Then was Scania coach D104 XAN.

Z Carz D104 XAN in Longton

Finally was Z Carz newest arrival, Mercedes minibus S952 VMY with its strange golden roundell on the front.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

We carried on home down Longton Hall Road and we stopped at the shop on Naishe Drive. He a galaxy caramel and a Milky Way and a can of Coke. We got home around 15:00. He had some computer time and around 17:00 we went to pick up uncle Dave. We went down via stanley Matthew way and back through Heron Cross and Blurton. Matthew the chilled out on his computer, watch some bus DVD's. As he had had a big meal, he had an omelete for a late tea and chocolate Gateaux for afters. Matthew the chilled out on his computer and went to bed around 11:30...Mark

Trip to Rudyard Lake 29-05-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJX	Shelton, opp Cemetery Road	Rudyard Lake	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	Rudyard Lake	Hanley Park	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	Hanley Park	Shelton, adj Cemetery Road	Charter	Aiming High

Today Matthew had an Aiming High trip arranged. Matthew got up just after 08:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. They sat off around 09:30 onto the A5035 past the hem Heath pub. They continued onto New Inn Lane and followed First Potteries 40154 along on a #21A to Bradeley. They stopped at the Wrights Pie shop n Hanford and picked up some mini sausage rolls to put i his packed lunch. Shopping done they carried on down Mayne Street and onto the Northbound A34. At Hanford roundabout they tuned right onto the Northbound A500. They did this up to Shelton New Road where we turned and then parked up at the Crossroads building. He said goodbye to mum and went into the building to use the toilet. When everyone was ready they went out to the bus, which was the usual aiming High vehicle for Shelton FJ10 BJX.

Aiming High FJ10 BJX in Shelton

Matthew and friends got on the buses and they set off towards Rudyard Lake. They went along Shelton New Road up to Snow Hill and onto Broad Street. We passed 40373 on a #21 service. We went onto the ring road which we did around to Bucknall New Road. We went down Limekiln bank and turned left onto Leek Road. We then carried on along this road until we reached the A53 Which we did forward to Leek. We went trough the town and onto the A523. We saw First Potteries 40383 on a #18 service. We carried on along the A523 to Rudyard where we off parked adjacent to the lake. We stopped at the visitors centre, where Matthew went to the toilet. We then walked over to the boast which we were going to be using today. It was a twin hulled, rowing boat.

Matthew's boat for the day at Rudyard Lake

We sat in the boat and we decided that today we would row over the lake in one single long session. Part way along Matthew got bored with rowing and he threw his oar into the lake. After the oar was retrieved he decided from this point on he was just going to relax and let everyone else do the work. He got a picture of cattle grazing close to the shore of the lake.

A view from the boat

They headed back to shore and then we had our packed lunch was down with more orange juice. They had a bit of time to spare, so after visiting the toilet again they set of back to Hanley Park. They headed down the A523 into Leek. We saw 40375 on a #18 service. We then did the A53 to Badderley Green and then onto Leek Road. We passed Wardle Transport 2038. We did Leek Road down to Botteslow street before cutting across Lichfield street into Shelton before parking up in Hanley Park. After 30 minutes here they returned to the minibus and headed back across Stoke Road to the Crossroads building. He went inside to use the toilet and photographed the sink. We picked up at 15:00 and we drove from Shelton New road to the A53 to pick up some LPG. Whilst we were filling up we spotted First Potteries 34158 on a #34 to Audley. After getting LPG We carried o Along the A53 to the A500. We did this south to the A50 and then to Longton. There were a few buses parked up by Z Carz today. was there as well as mini coach W344 WNS.

Z Carz W344 WNS in Longton

We also saw recent arrival W221 CDN.

Z Carz W221 CDN in Longton

Then we spotted a new vehicle to Z Carz, Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

We turned passed the Willow Row compound to see if there was anything there. Lightning minibus FD53 UNX and MJ03 DPU were inside the building. T408 JUX was also there. We got back onto the A50 and headed to heron Cross where and then picked up uncle Dave. We picked him up and we headed through heron Cross through Blurton. We got back home at around 16:00. around 17:00 i went to fetch some food for tea from the chip shop. We had sausage chips and gravy. Matthew had a chill out on his computer before we went to uncle Dave's around 20:20. We went via Blurton Road and Heron Cross. Here we drank pop, ate custard creams, watched telly and listened to music on uncle Dave's computer. Around 22:00 we left uncle Dave's and got onto the A500. We Headed South to the A519 where we got onto Whitmore Road. We went down to the A34 and then onto the A5035 we stopped at Nat West to use the cash machine and carried on along the A5035 and to home. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until going bed until around 00:00...Mark

Trip to Cheddleton / Beatrice 24-06-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJX	John Street, Hanley	Cheddleton	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	Cheddleton	John Street, Hanley	Charter	Aiming High
D104 XAN	John Street, Hanley	Longton BS	Charter	Z carz
T131 SGA	Longton BS	Longton BS	Charter	Z Carz
BV51 BNO	Longton BS	Longton BS	Charter	Z Carz
T131 SGA	Longton BS	Longton BS	Charter	Z Carz
2532	Longton BS	Blurton Ladybank Grove	22	Wardle Transport

Today Matthew was lucky enough to be invited on a second Aiming High trip in two Sundays. As last week we discovered there is no access from John Street we decided to go out a little bit earlier so Matthew could see some buses before he went on his trip. We got up around 08:00 and we set off after breakfast around 09:15. Matthew directed up to Hanley via Milton and back along the A53 to Cobridge before coming into Hanley along Waterloo Road. We parked up in the small car park opposite the bus station and the plan was to spend a few minutes here to get a few bus pictures before we drove around to John Street. Matthew dragged us across to the bus station, but because this wasn't planned we didn't have his pass with us. Whilst there we saw 40025 parked up and 60063. Also wardle Transport 3152 was on the #118 to Buxton. We eventually got back across saw Z Carz W344 WNS Copelands Tours MIB 236 going to Llandudno, but Matthew didn't want to get in the car to fetch his pass or drive around to John Street. I sat with Matthew by the car park whilst mum drove around to John Street to see someone from Crossroads. Mum brought back a member of staff from Crossroads and this time Matthew got in the car and we drove around to the bus. This was Z carz HX51 HRU, one that Matthew has been on a few times before. Matthew got a picture of the minibus. He said hello to a few people before he went. was Aiming high FJ10 BJX waiting.

Aiming High FJ10 BJX in John Street Hanley

Matthew got into the bus and was now all smiles after his few minutes of drama and off they went. They went up to Weston Coyney via Dividy road and past the Esso garage. They got to Cheddleton where the Beatrice was waiting for them at her moorings. Matthew got a picture of the barge.

The Beatrice at her moorings in Cheddleton

As far as I can tell from his photo graphs Matthew headed eastwards along the route of the railway towards Consall. They passed through at least one lock as he took a picture of the lock wall through the barge window. Further down the canal they passed this sorry looking barge moored up along side of the canal.

Boat moored by the Cauldon Canal

Somewhere down the canal the turned the boat around and head back towards Cheddleton. Matthew photographed some more boat that where moored o but these appeared to be just resting temporarily.

More boats moored by the Cauldon Canal

Further along there were some more boats having a short rest.

More boats moored by the Cauldon Canal

Back at Cheddleton, they headed back towards Hanley on the Aiming high bus. They arrived back by Z carz coach D104 XAN in Hanley just a little after 15:00 and he was in a far better mood than he had been this morning. As we were low on LPG we decided to have a drive around. We headed to the Shell garage at Festival Park as this was the closet that did LPG. On the way we saw Z carz V690 EBC heading East along the A53 through Cobridge lights. Whilst I filled up mum and Matthew went shopping! Matthew brought some Coke, millionares short bread. We drove back towards Hanley and then headed towards Bentilee so we could drive past the First garage at Adderley Green. We also went past Longton bus station which was empty at the time. we had just passed First PMT 61554 on either a #6 or #26. We then went passed the Z carz garage where we saw D104 XAN which had been to York, W344 WNS to Manchester,BV51 BNO local and T131 SGA local too. Matthew took a picture as we drove past the depot on Edensor Road.

Vehicles parked up at Z Carz in Longton

He then took a couple of trips on the Z carz buses BV51 BNO from Edensor Road depot T408 JUX was out as well as S973 OVP was then and then and from Longton bus station was Z Carz T131 SGA and then back there to the in Longton depot.We saw M283 BLD to Longton Bus station was Wardle Transport 2532 on the #22 service before we headed Home. He also saw PMT MMM120 & PMT SDC863 out and about today. We headed home on 2532 and saw Z carz W591 YBN in Blurton. we also saw First PMT 42727 on the #23 service. We had a homemade Chicken dinner for tea before we settle down for the evening...Mark.