Thursday 3rd September 2015 | Adult Single: 60p (30) and North East Explorer (£9.70)
10:00 #30 North Seaton B&Q to Ashington, Fifth Avenue (almost!) - Phoenix Taxis KV02 URY
After walking to North Seaton, to ensure that I don't miss this journey. I flagged down the bus in the layby, just to have the driver gesturing that he won't stop. He did stop, he opened his doors and explained that the layby wasn't a bus stop and how he wouldn't pick me up there again. I was allowed to board, he went off to a mobile canteen to get some coffee. He returned and drove around the corner, where he got off and wandered into some bushes for some reason. I was the only person on board until Fifth Avenue, we passed Arriva Sapphire 7503, broken down in the bus stop at Seventh Avenue. I pressed the bell and shortly he passed my stop at speed, he apologised and braked sharply.
After dropping off my mams parcel at the house, I walked up to 7503, to see what's happened. The supervisor was there awaiting the assistance of a fitter, who shortly arrived in Toyota Hilux 9934 and diagnosed the issue as a burst coolant pipe.
10:35 #1 Ashington, Seventh Avenue to Blyth Bus Station - Arriva Northumbria 1403
As 7503 was blocking the bus stop, the driver gestured that the bus would stop in front of it. The driver issued me my Explorer ticket and waited for me to sit down before he set off. This was a quiet ride to Blyth.
I picked up the new X14 and X15 timetables before waiting for a X5, 7458 was operating the X5 so I decided to get the 309.
11:19 #309 Blyth Bus Station to Newcastle Haymarket Bus Station - Go North East 6109
The driver was hesitant to let me on with my 'Arriva' ticket and showed me where to catch a 308. I had to repeat myself that it was an Explorer and he finally let me on. This was a nice ride up to the point of Cobalt, where a young girl and her grandma sat upstairs and started blaring music out loud. Once in Newcastle, I made my way to Eldon Square for a Greggs baguette and cloudy lemonade.
12:40 #46 Newcastle Eldon Square to MetroCentre Interchange - Go North East 5419
This was the first bus that I saw that went to the MetroCentre, so I went on it. I've done this journey many times and plus some child was whinging and grabbing the seat behind. Not a nice ride.
13:16 Metro Centre to Heworth - Northern Rail Class 142 'Pacer' 142084
After a short wait, 142084 turned up. I sat down on what is basically a bench from an older bus with Northern Rail and First Great Western fabric. The conductor tried to charge me a full return to Nunthorpe as he was sure that Explorers weren't valid from here to Sunderland. He then went to his cab to check if they were valid, and he opened his door and gave a thumbs up. Nowt much else happened on this 'bus from hell' as my brother calls them.
13:47 #M12 Heworth Interchange to Heworth Interchange via Gateshead and Wardley - A-line KX58 BJE
I decided that the M12 would be the next route that I should use. This Plaxton Centro turned up, with a very happy driver who accepted my ticket with a smile. He happily accepted my request to stay on until Heworth on arrival at Gateshead and he asked if I was an enthusiast. After having a short chat he asked if I wanted a quick photo at Stand D. He posed in the photo. On arrival at Heworth, he asked if I wanted to stay on to have a trip to Wardley and back. So I did, the roads really don't help with all the potholes, with continous bangs and rattles. We then arrived back in Heworth, he left SNIS, presumably to do a school run.
14:45 #4 Heworth Interchange to Washington Galleries Bus Station - Go North East 5394
A short ride on this new-ish Citaro. I wasn't paying much attention as I was texting my mam. The bloke doing the announcements sounded he was really happy... Washington Gallerieeees!
14:13 #23 Washington Galleries Bus Station to Birtley Morrisons - Gateshead Central Taxis SF15 JPV
A bus ride that I'll never forget. A small bus on a route with medium passenger loadings...?! The bus had "Birtley Lansbury Drive" indicated on the destinations. Luckily I read the threads with LeeCalder's mini-rants in them :P , so I knew that this bus continued to Birtley Morrisons and ultimately Barley Mow Estate. I boarded this bus, to have a driver ask "What's that?" when I showed my ticket. I explained to him what Explorers were... I must have been the only person on this bus that was under 40 years of age. The new bus smell is still lingering on here, but the bell didn't work...
15:00 #21 Birtley to Gateshead Interchange - Go North East 6061
The third Angel Gemini that I've used, unfortunately the announcements were working so I had to put up with Karen and Steve, or Steve and Karen from either Galaxy, Capital or Metro Radio, they can't make their mind up. Anyhoo, a short hop into Gateshead, where I alighted in to a strange brick stand, certainly different to the other side of the bus station. I found a dark dingy entrance to "Gateshead", not marked with a "M" sign or anything! I then found a strange large ticket hall, with the gates on the other side. As per usual, the inspectors were trying to get to level 54 on Candy Crush, they must have forgot that the gates were open...
15:45 Gateshead to Regent Centre - Tyne and Wear Metro 4007
This was a peak-time extra to Regent Centre. The front of the MetroCar was closed for driver training. It wasn't very busy on board to require those seats anyway. Picked up a few passengers at Jesmond. The auto-announcements announced that the train will terminate at the next station, Regent Centre. The the trainee driver announced that everyone should leave the train. Not long later, I arrived at Regent Centre, where I had aimed for a MPD on the X14 (now the X16). The next bus to Morpeth was the 44, hell, why not?!
15:55 #44 Regent Centre to Morpeth Bus Station - Arriva Northumbria 7488
I've always wanted to ride this route. The front seats were occupied up until Wide Open, but there's nowt to see there! I managed to get the front seats for the rest of the journey. This was a quiet ride from Dinnington onwards, with only a few people on by Morpeth. This was a relaxing journey, passing along near abandoned roads. 7488 was looking nice internally, it was clean, of course excluding the usual muck that passengers leave behind. These looked like they're in better condition than Ashington's.
16:36 #35 Morpeth Bus Station to Ashington, Hirst Park - Arriva Northumbria 7480
I will miss these machines. Everytime I get one on the 35, I'm always thankful for a window that I can open unlike the StreetShites. Thankfully, the 44 didn't get held up at Stannington rail crossing, otherwise a misery StreetLite would be my ride home. Not much to say about the usual offerings of the 35.
I hope that you enjoyed this review.
The next bus outing should be on Wednesday when I buy myself an Arriva All Zones ticket.
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