Today's outing (which I was going to do yesterday but was deprived of sleep and feeling unwell, so I did it today instead).

0842 7 Newton Aycliffe - Durham (ANE 1518)
0946 X2 Durham - Newcastle (ANE 1472)
1054 X21 Newcastle - Bedlington (ANE 7528)
1149 19 Bedlington - North Shields: Royal Quays (GNE 5244)
1353 9 North Shields: Howden Road - Sunderland (GNE 5155)
1615 X21/21 Sunderland - Newton Aycliffe (ANE 4811)

Im being a Lazy Git due to suffering from a Hearing Infection and Chest Infection over the Past 2 Weeks, so I wont be going anywhere over the weekend unless I need to, if anything I would say these Infections have been made worse by having to go to Appointments at Ingeus 3 Times a Week in this Horrid Cold Weather, I blame my Advisor as he is a Heartless Unsympathetic Wanker despite knowing how Ill I have been. 

Not be doing anything at all tomorrow, really need rest after my five long and arduous days at work, I mean ferrying tea and coffee around is hard enough without the extra challenge of biscuits with them!!

Not be doing anything at all tomorrow, really need rest after my five long and arduous days at work, I mean ferrying tea and coffee around is hard enough without the extra challenge of biscuits with them!!

Sunday's are my days for that task!

Today's Outing....

#X25 - Chester to Newcastle
(11:10 --- 11:58) GNE 4928
#100 - Newcastle to MetroCentre
(12:09 --- 12:26) SNE 22413
#10A - MetroCentre to Newcastle
(12:38 --- 13:00) GNE 3941
#100 - Newcastle to MetroCentre
(13:19 --- 13:40) SNE 27506
#X24 - MetroCentre to Chester
(14:06 --- 14:36) ANE 7477

Overall, pretty good day. I had a ride on my first ALX300 in god knows how long! - and it was superb! However, nearly every single bus I got on during the day was late in some way, be it due to roadworks or unorganised passengers, etc.

Pleased I got to ride 3941 - I haven't been on it since it was repainted into the corporate livery. And the bloodcurdling screech from the back of 7477 was surreal! - like a dog giving birth!

Can't even remember mine! Went something like:

GNE 50 - Washington - Boldon
GNE 9 - Boldon - Sunderland
Metro - Park Lane - Monument
SNE X34 - Newcastle - Boldon
GNE X36 - Boldon - Newcastle
GNE 11 - Newcastle - Metro Centre
GNE X66 - Metro Centre - Gateshead
GNE X10 - Gateshead - Heworth
GNE 4 - Heworth - Galleries
GNE 83 - Galleries - Biddick

Can't even remember mine! Went something like:

GNE 50 - Washington - Boldon
GNE 9 - Boldon - Sunderland
Metro - Park Lane - Monument
SNE X34 - Newcastle - Boldon
GNE X36 - Boldon - Newcastle
GNE 11 - Newcastle - Metro Centre
GNE X66 - Metro Centre - Gateshead
GNE X10 - Gateshead - Heworth
GNE 4 - Heworth - Galleries
GNE 83 - Galleries - Biddick

You should always keep your tickets, man! Have the notice board people not been passing this on?

You should always keep your tickets, man! Have the notice board people not been passing this on?

If he has a day ticket then that could be a challenge

0846 T&W Metro Brockley Whins - Park Lane 4031
0911 E1 Park Lane - Horsley Hill 27735
0954 X34 Horsley Hill - Newcastle 19196
1104 X63 Newcastle - Newcastle 19676 (thought X63 went to Killingworth bus station but it didn't)
1200 X10 Newcastle - Gateshead 6046
1225 X1 Gateshead - Washington 60xx
1257 83 Washington - Birtley 6017
1324 21 Birtley - Gateshead 6061
1356 T&W Metro Gateshead - Pelaw 4036 (where it was taken off due to a failure)
1415 T&W Metro Pelaw - Hebburn
1422 515 Hebburn - Heworth
1440ish Metro Heworth - Monument 40xx
1510 X34 Newcastle - Gateshead 16833
1527 Metro Gateshead - Jarrow 4080
1542 88A Jarrow - Scotch Estate 8254

You should always keep your tickets, man! Have the notice board people not been passing this on?

Some people dee their trips on the cheap and divvint buy single tickets!!  

Some people dee their trips on the cheap and divvint buy single tickets!!  

Bull shet!

Btw, did you get me PM?

Some people dee their trips on the cheap and divvint buy single tickets!!  

*cough*me*cough*

Bull shet!

Btw, did you get me PM?

Aye, I did.
Gonna upload my photos to Flickr from today first, then do it for you.  

You should always keep your tickets, man! Have the notice board people not been passing this on?

No can do! Day Rover for me.

No can do! Day Rover for me.

Traitor.

Tomorrow I think I might head over to Sunderland for the Metro Replacement.

Tomorrow I think I might head over to Sunderland for the Metro Replacement.

What you planning on getting there?

What you planning on getting there?

Sorry about the late reply - nothing now I know it's only on until 12! Would have been the 9. 
Probably go next week for the South Shields one. 

Planning one or two Sunderland bashes over the Christmas holidays. I do have this Friday and next Monday off, due to teacher training, but I'm going to spend those riding local services (something I haven't done in a long time!) and trying out some different locations, just on my doorstep, around my area. So....here's what I'm planning;

Day 1 -
#21 - Chester to Durham
(11:15 --- 11:32)
#20 - Durham to Houghton
(11:42 --- 12:16)
#4 - Houghton to Washington
(12:21 --- 12:53)
#2C - Washington to Sunderland
(13:01 --- 13:36)
#78 - Sunderland to Home
(14:07 --- 14:43)

And...Day 2 -
#78 - Home to Sunderland
(10:10 --- 10:46)
#35A - Sunderland to Houghton
(11:00 --- 11:35)
#4 - Houghton to Washington
(11:41 --- 12:13)
#8 - Washington to Sunderland
(12:33 --- 13:00)
#20A - Sunderland to Houghton
(13:12 --- 13:35)
#71 - Houghton to Home
(13:43 --- 14:04)

Not sure on dates yet, but I've got my mind set on those two!

Planning one or two Sunderland bashes over the Christmas holidays. I do have this Friday and next Monday off, due to teacher training, but I'm going to spend those riding local services (something I haven't done in a long time!) and trying out some different locations, just on my doorstep, around my area. So....here's what I'm planning;

Day 1 -
#21 - Chester to Durham
(11:15 --- 11:32)
#20 - Durham to Houghton
(11:42 --- 12:16)
#4 - Houghton to Washington
(12:21 --- 12:53)
#2C - Washington to Sunderland
(13:01 --- 13:36)
#78 - Sunderland to Home
(14:07 --- 14:43)

And...Day 2 -
#78 - Home to Sunderland
(10:10 --- 10:46)
#35A - Sunderland to Houghton
(11:00 --- 11:35)
#4 - Houghton to Washington
(11:41 --- 12:13)
#8 - Washington to Sunderland
(12:33 --- 13:00)
#20A - Sunderland to Houghton
(13:12 --- 13:35)
#71 - Houghton to Home
(13:43 --- 14:04)

Not sure on dates yet, but I've got my mind set on those two!

Makes a change to your usual Gatehsead and Metrocentre
They sounds good. Though maybe you could try and get the 208 to Peterlee and catch a ride on the X21 on one of them?

Makes a change to your usual Gatehsead and Metrocentre
They sounds good. Though maybe you could try and get the 208 to Peterlee and catch a ride on the X21 on one of them?

Mmm....good suggestion. I mean, I've got plenty of days to do more than two over Christmas (although I am planning quite a few rides on Service X43, just in case of any Olympians!), so I don't see why I couldn't!

I'll be honest, I prefer things to be 'short and sweet', just to keep things nicely timed. I hate being out after 15:00 at Christmas!

Mmm....good suggestion. I mean, I've got plenty of days to do more than two over Christmas (although I am planning quite a few rides on Service X43, just in case of any Olympians!), so I don't see why I couldn't!

I'll be honest, I prefer things to be 'short and sweet', just to keep things nicely timed. I hate being out after 15:00 at Christmas!

I'll see if I can come up with something in the timescale 10:00-14:30?

I'll see if I can come up with something in the timescale 10:00-14:30?

Go for it!

Marc, if you've got time on an evening, the 1635 15A has tended to be an Olympian every other night recently.

Marc, if you've got time on an evening, the 1635 15A has tended to be an Olympian every other night recently.

Sadly the dark nights rolling in prevent me from doing so, so I think I'll just take my chances with the X43.

It's still Marcus btw - just chose 'MarcTheA4' because it has a nicer ring to it than 'MarcusTheA4'.

Don't really mind either though.

I keep saying it, but yes I'm going to have another outing before the end of the year. 

Thinking about spending quite a bit of time in Shields, and then going far out and wide in Newcastle, mainly after Stagecoach stuff. I've jotted up some ideas for Shields and Newcastle Stagecoach networks so far, but I'll also be on a Day Rover, so Arriva & GNE stuff isn't out of the question either.

Any suggestions etc? Apart from times - I never stick to them, so nee point!

I keep saying it, but yes I'm going to have another outing before the end of the year. 

Thinking about spending quite a bit of time in Shields, and then going far out and wide in Newcastle, mainly after Stagecoach stuff. I've jotted up some ideas for Shields and Newcastle Stagecoach networks so far, but I'll also be on a Day Rover, so Arriva & GNE stuff isn't out of the question either.

Any suggestions etc? Apart from times - I never stick to them, so nee point!

I love making plans, so I don't mind putting one together for you.

Will you be starting from Durham or Washington?

I love making plans, so I don't mind putting one together for you.

Will you be starting from Durham or Washington?

Really? You may make it past the 21 one of these days then.

In all seriousness, I'll probably just start off in Shields or Newcastle. I'm out early morning with other commitments, so will just take off from wherever I land.

Got this ready for Saturday....

#X25 - Chester to Gateshead
(11:10 --- 11:40)
#21 - Gateshead to Newcastle
(11:46 --- 11:56)
#X34 - Newcastle to Gateshead
(12:10 --- 12:19)
#X34 - Gateshead to Newcastle
(12:28 --- 12:35)
#10A - Newcastle to MetroCentre
(12:45 --- 13:03)
#X66 - MetroCentre to Gateshead
(13:10 --- 13:20)
#21 - Gateshead to Home
(13:24 --- 14:04)

Should hopefully be Olympian 16833 on the 12:10 board, seeing as it has been on the 13:40 and 15:10 for the past while (that's assuming it's still holding out!)

I'm looking for something to do this Saturday so I might join you for part of it, I've not had 16833 yet!

I'm wanting to do Consett (possibly Lanchester) and Whitley Bay/Blyth/Tynemouth too, would like a go on one of the new Streetlites! Still not been on a Sapphire yet so could go up to Ashington too...

If anyone would like to join me for the full day (0830 until 1745 or 1845) please feel free, just let me know if that's ok?


Sean