Right review time.
0932 7 Newton Aycliffe - Durham Bus Station (ANE 1514)
Started off the day on the 7, was a rather busy journey especially with the sun being out. Not really a great deal else to say about this journey.
1030 15A Durham Millburngate - Consett (GNE 3831)
Was originally going to get the X12 to Newcastle but checked the Live Map and discovered it was running 7 minutes late then I saw Lolyne 3872 enter Durham Bus Station on the 20 so I went down towards Millburngate for a photo as the lighting wasn't brilliant outside the bus station this morning on the way down there I caught a glimpse of 3831 heading round the roundabout outside the Bus Station so my mind was made up as to where I was heading next. After I got my photo of 3872 I headed back down to Millburngate to catch this to Consett, was a few on upstairs but many were older people, quite enjoyed this journey as it was quiet and the 15A route is rather scenic and I haven't done this route any further than Lanchester for quite a few years now (in fact the last time I did the 15A to Consett it was a Lime branded B10BLE) so anyway I quite enjoyed this journey and it got quieter as the journey went on with it only having me and another young lad when it got to Delves Lane.
1127 78 Consett Bus Station - Stanley Bus Station (GNE 4855)
Stood around for a bit unsure where to go next then I saw this enter so I went for this as the Lime B10's don't have long left now and also it meant I got to learn the route as I've only done the Stanley - Chester section of the 78 route (had done the old X22 which followed some of the 78 route). Was pleased to get this and it made for a nice journey just was annoying that there was Metro papers and a load of litter where I was sat.
1203 X43 Stanley Bus Station - MetroCentre Bus Station (GNE 647)
Was thinking of staying on 4855 until Chester but I saw the StreetLite in Stanley Bus Station so quickly jumped off and rushed to get a shot of it. After this had gone I got a few other shots before deciding what to get next and this is what I ended up going with as I haven't done the X43 route before and I haven't been on one of the Venture Solo SR's so I thought this was a good call, thought that this was quite a nice little route and I thought that a Solo SR was probably better at getting round some of the roads on this route than say a Lolyne would be. Actually quite liked this Solo SR and I hope they get some for the East Durham services. Was a little disappointed to see Olympain 3822 go past on the 46 as we were arriving at the MetroCentre.
1240 100 MetroCentre Bus Station - Newcastle, Blackett Street (SNE 22028)
Thought I would head to Newcastle next given that the actual idea for this day out was actually to do a bit of shopping around Newcastle so I hung around waiting for something to appear and then saw this so I decided to get this to Newcastle, This was an alright journey nothing really to shout about but was fairly enjoyable.
Got to Newcastle went to Poundworld for three tins of Cherry Coke felt like I was in here for ages and that's because I was as there was only two people on serving. After I finally got out of here I went for a Greggs corned beef pasty and eat that. Went round some of the shops in Eldon Square went into HMV and bought the new San Cisco album (hopefully unlike their last album which I bought at the MetroCentre branch will contain the correct CD as I ended up with a reggae CD last time). Went round some of the other shops in Eldon Square and bought nothing else than I headed to Reflex which is a independent record shop which sells CDs and Vinyls, I bought All Time Low and Kodaline (I have a rather strange taste in music) then I headed to Newgate Street for the 45 which I worked out was the journey 3822 was on earlier so I waited and hoped this is what would appear then I could see something yellow in the distance...
1427 45 Newcastle, Newgate Street - Consett Bus Station (GNE 3822)
... Yep, it was 3822 which made me happy and it made me even happier when I discovered the front seat upstairs was free. just a shame it was fairly worn down but just about comfortable enough to sit on. The 45 is another route that has great scenery which made this allocation even better as I could see more sat upstairs which is good as this is another route I wanted to learn with the upcoming investment. This was another enjoyable journey apart from a rather annoying loud rattling noise which I think was from where the destination screen is although I didn't let this spoil the journey.
1550 15A Consett Bus Station - Durham Bus Station (GNE 3831)
Back with 3831 again, got on this and managed to get the front seat this time though and was pretty happy to be on this again Durham here we come... or not as we left Consett Bus Station only to re-enter the bus station, I think the bus was getting some water in it and after about 5 minutes Durham here we come. This journey was fairly quiet although there was a few on. Because of needing a water top up it was running late but this beast managed to make up time on the roads coming out of Delves Lane. Loved this journey apart from being boiled alive whilst it was sat in Consett Bus Station and although I haven't ridden many of these Volvo Olympians I am going to miss them.
1647 7 Durham Bus Station - Newton Aycliffe (ANE 1513)
I say 1647 it was actually later than that which was no surprise as this journey is always late as it always gets stuck in traffic getting out of Darlington with all the schools traffic, I seriously think some services need more running time around school times with the 7 being one of them as it gets stuck getting out of Darlington and also getting to Nevilles Cross where the timetable says it should take 4 minutes to get from Durham Bus Station to Nevilles Cross - some days it takes around 20 minutes to achieve this journey. I know this journey is always late as I often used to get this journey home from college. Not a great deal to say about this other than it was rather busy and the woman sat behind me seemed to mistake the headrest for a place to hang her coat.
Well that was my day out today, was nice that I managed to get a ride on some Volvo Olympians and also a Lime B10 as they won't be around much longer. Hope you enjoyed reading this review.
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