12, JAN. 2026 SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL.

 Monday morning.

Beach Buoy, Borrowed Dog and Another Dog headed for the beach.

They arrived at around 8-20.

They had parked in Seaton Park Car Park.

They headed down the access ramp near to the beach huts.

It was eight degrees warmer than it had been yesterday.

To the south, a Large Ship was heading downriver to the open sea.

He collected five suitable stones at the Village Church Bells rang for 8-30.

Beach Buoy fed some Determined Crows.

The Large Ship set off into the bay.

They all headed south.

The lady with a dog called Dylan headed back north.

"Morning."

"Morning."

The Sunderland Supporter and his black dog were up near the dunes.

He won't have recognised Beach Buoy walking with two dogs?

A Dead Oyster Catcher lay near the sea.

Breeze-fluttered feathers looked like one last distant wave.

Although the five stones that Beach Buoy had gathered were suitable, they were quite heavy too.

It all reminded Beach Buoy of a Bob Hope cowboy film.

"He leans to the left, so shoot to the right.

The sun rises in the east ...."

They walked the low level route.

THE ROAD TO STUBBORN STACK.

"Morning Mate."

They had reached Stubborn Dog Stack.

It was around 9-05.

He added five suitable stones.

He patted

THE

stones.

No Crows at the stack.

Beach Buoy sat on the driftwood seat with an elevated view.

He had a sit and a think.

He heard fluttering.

He put his phone camera on to Selfie mode.

It is something he usually avoids  at all costs.

The Crows had arrived.

The sit and think view.

"See you mate."

They headed back to the south.

Two ladies with Spaniels took selfies near to a large drift wood tree stump.

Nearby a Seal Pup lay dead.

A breath would have made it perfect.

As it was it was sleeping th soundest of all sleeps.

They headed back.

One Crow to feed and they were gone.

BEACH BUOY.

PAUL.

11, JAN. 2026. SEATON SANDS HARTLEPOOL.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog had gone to the beach early.

It was dark, windy and raining.

Another Dog refused to walk.

Walk called off.

Beach Buoy returned on his own on the afternoon.

He parked in Seaton Park Car Park.

He reached the beach at 1-52. 

An icy wind blew from the south west.

The tide was well out.

Lots of shifting sand.

It was a good call, not bringing Another Dog.

A few people and dogs were scattered around.

Beach Buoy headed to the Seaton Carew Wreck.

A Crow was the only crew member.

It balanced in the strong wind.

Beach Buoy put some seeds inside thew wreck where one of the timbers offered some protection.

The wind was so cold and strong it felt like walking uphill when walking into the headwind.

He collected five suitable stones.

Beach Buoy had one eye shut.

50% less chance of getting some wind-blown sand in your eye if one was closed.

The dunes did offer some protection.

The low level route felt calm.

"Afternoon mate."

It was 2-31.

Beach Buoy added the five suitable stones.

He patted

THE

stone.

No Crows this afternoon.

"See you mate."

Before heading down the small slope, Beach Buoy left some seed up near the Stack.

It was a doddle heading back with a tail wind.

Beach Buoy did a beach clean as he returned to the north.

Team Muzzled Dog stopped to chat.

It was their second beach walk of the day.

The chat was sponsored by the word 

BALTIC!

It was very chilly.

Beach Buoy passed the Bus Station Clock Tower as the Village Church Bells rang for 3 p.m.

Spots of rain began to fall.

BEACH BUOY.

10, JAN. 2026 SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL.

 Saturday morning.

It had snowed overnight.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog walked to the beach.

It was a slow slippery walk.

The Esplanade.

Beach Buoy was mugged on the old Putting Green by three hungry Crows.

It was 7-56.

Team Muzzled Dog were heading south.

Beach Buoy was mugged once again, this time by beach Crows.

Luckily he had brought two tubs of seed.

A White Doodle Dog called Milo came to say hello.

Beach Buoy chatted to Team One Black Ear, they were heading back to the north.

Their borrowed dog is called Milo too.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog continued south.

He collected five cold but suitable stones.

They headed south between sea and snow.

The sea was quite rough.

The waves were breaking up to seven steps out into the bay.

Every now and then the sea would run.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog did too.

A large tree stump had washed up.

They headed for the low level route.

The low level route was much easier to walk in daylight.

Beach Buoy glanced back to the north.

The beach walkers were walking in the snow, not the sand.

Closer to Stubborn Dog Stack.

A Crow appeared.

Another Dog was suitably impressed.

As they were about to reach the small slope that lead to Stubborn Dog Stack,Beach Buoy could see a Crow landing on one of the giant pencils.

A few steps up the slope and there were Three Crows.

"Morning Mate."

It was 8-32.

He patted 

THE

stone.

He added  the five suitable stones.

Beach Buoy scattered some seeds for the waiting Crows.

"See you mate."

They headed back.

People walked the snow.

The Sun was trying to show.

The sea still ran.

A lady with two dogs headed north.

"Morning."

"Morning. Is the tide coming in?

I don't want to be stuck down there on my own."

Beach Buoy assured her that the tide was trying to head out. 

He added that every now and again it would run in.

The lady and her dogs headed towards the grey rocks.

Four ladies in a line headed south.

They headed to the grey rocks too.

Snowy Sunshine Shadows.

Back to the Car Park.

The Village Church Bells rang for 9 a.m. as they reached the north end of the dunes.

BEACH BUOY.

9, JAN. 2026. SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL.

Friday morning.

Beach Buoy went to the beach alone. 

It was a new beach book kind of day.

He reached the beach at 6-55.

There was a chilly wind off the sea.

The tide was well in.

He collected five suitable stones by torch light.

It was dark enough for a torch and belly lamp.

The shapes of the clouds could still be seen in the dark sky.

Lines of car headlights travelled along the sea front.

Off to work

There was no one to the north,.

To the south Beach Buoy could see a red flashing light.

The type with a dog attached.

There was a hint of a reflective strip on the owner's coat.

They both headed up the big slope.

After all Billy two torches was heading south towards them.

Beach Buoy's Father had always told him to take two torches if you go on a dark beach.

Others will think that there are two of you.

Safer.

Father had died over 43 years ago, but there he was, two torches on the dark beach.

He climbed the small slope.

He scanned the dunes for monsters.

It was this dark...

Perhaps he was it?

"Morning Mate."

It was only 7-15.

He had walked quickly.

He patted

THE

stone

He added the five suitable stones.

"See you mate."

He headed back.

An unusual bright light out at sea seemed to point straight at him.

Waves broke up to six steps out to sea.

Beach Buoy turned off his lights.

He could see well enough now.

The man with a Labradoodle came from the north,

The dog barked and barked.

As Beach Buoy approached the access ramp, bullet-like hail blew in off the sea.

The Beachcombing Border Collie Couple set off on their walk.

Up on The Esplanade Beach Buoy had a quick chat with Mr.Gunn/Lunn.

Excellent Dog Alfie and Thursday Basil was there with him too.

(On a Friday!)

The man with a determined walking stick headed south in the hail.

It had to be a little more determined today.

BEACH BUOY.