Man on viral bus trip across country loses it on Bolton bus

A council worker who travelled as far as he could in one day from London only using public bus routes only 'went mad' once - on the number eight bus to Bolton.

Jo Kibble, the 39-year-old head of the cabinet office for Ealing Council in London, set out to travel as far as he could in just one day by bus from London, ending up in Morecambe.

This took him through a variety of landmarks, notably for him Preston Bus Station, the vast countryside of the Peak District, and much more.

The journey took him just over 21 hours, with each step recorded on his Twitter page, setting off in the early hours of Friday morning, finishing in the early hours of Saturday morning.

A rapid dinner and over to the sparkly Shudehill Interchange on the other side of the city centre. Off towards Bolton on Diamond’s number 8. #bus24 pic.twitter.com/QIeLzALE2s

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Mr Kibble told BBC News that despite this epic journey time, he never 'went mad'.

This was, until, he needed to catch the bus to Bolton.

He reached Shudehill Interchange in Manchester City Centre around 8pm on the Friday evening setting off towards on the number eight bus.

The Irwell in the gloaming. (As predicted, I am starting to lose my grasp on things. But Salford’s endless dual carriageways are sorting me out.) pic.twitter.com/ztdo3dB6FZ

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This bus goes from the city centre, through Salford and Clifton, before winding through Kearsley and Farnworth and onto Bolton.

He said as he passed over the River Irwell out of the city: "As predicted, I am starting to lose my grasp on things.

"But Salford’s endless dual carriageways are sorting me out."

I clearly am losing it, as I keep seeing signs trying to convince me that I’m in a place called Irlams o’ th’ Height. It does seem to, again, consist largely of dual carriageways. (It’s not a northern thing. We Yorkshirefolk wouldn’t do that to a placename). #bus24 pic.twitter.com/nYx4UGhrGw

â€" [Restricted] Animal (@politic_animal) August 20, 2021

"I clearly am losing it," he continued.

"As I keep seeing signs trying to convince me that I’m in a place called Irlams o’ th’ Height. It does seem to, again, consist largely of dual carriageways."

Bolton is a bit too lively for me, of a Friday evening. {I included the tree in the corner of the shot so you didn’t think it was a still photograph.) #bus24 pic.twitter.com/OlvIWFaJNX

â€" [Restricted] Animal (@politic_animal) August 20, 2021

He eventually made it into Bolton, sarcastically commenting how quiet Newport Street was on a Friday night, although he was full of compliments for Bolton town hall.

"Absolutely cracking town hall, though. Pitch-perfect for the size of the town," he said.

Absolutely cracking town hall, though. Pitch-perfect for the size of the town. #bus24 pic.twitter.com/JnrNmkucyJ

â€" [Restricted] Animal (@politic_animal) August 20, 2021

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