Just a bike ride.
Seaton Carew to Hartlepool Marina and back.
Paul.
Saturday, 5 September 2026
SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL. 5, SEPTEMBER 2026.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog reached the beach at 7-07 a.m.
The lady with a red coat and a brown dog called Jasper was just returning to her car, beach walk done.
They chatted about the joys of early morning beaches.
Five September Sand Martins were flying along the Esplanade Wall.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed down the Access Ramp.
He heard Geese.
He grabbed his phone.
Click.
Too late they had gone from sea to dune and beyond.
A man was coming up the access ramp.
Beach Buoy felt a need to explain his actions.
"Just missed the Geese."
"I never heard them. What were they,
Snow Geese?"
Beach Buoy doubted that but answered.
"No idea."
Beach Buoy went down to the beach.
He collected five suitable stones.
Another Dog went on strike.
They both stood.
Ted the Terrible and owner passed as they headed to search the shingle.
They chatted briefly.
Finally Another Dog moved.
They headed south.
Up ahead a lady walked her Border Collie southwards along the water's edge.
Her dog was busy rounding up invisible sheep.
The Sun was out.
There was a wind from the west.
Seaton Carew.
The lady and her Border Collie were well ahead of them.
Beach Buoy scattered a capful of seed for a Strand-line Crow.
There were some Terns diving into the bay, close to shore.
They weren't Little Terns but they were small and slight.
Further out, a Lone Gannet made a splash.
They headed to the low level route.
Two sturdy stones were selected for the sea defence.
They were added.
Up the small slope.
"Morning Mate."
It was 7-45.
A new stone at Stubborn Dog Stack.
Beach Buoy added the five suitable stones.
He patted
THE
stone.
He had a sit and a think on the driftwood seat with an elevated view.
The couple who are rarely mentioned on the blog came walking across it pages, north to south.
"See you mate."
As they headed back, three Crows flew to Stubborn Dog Stack and a waiting breakfast.
They headed back.
Mr.Gunn/Lunn and Excellent Dog Alfie were heading south.
They chatted.
As they did so, the man who once had four dogs and now has three passed by "Morning Gents."
"Morning ."
The man with a Border Collie who walks an anticlockwise route from North Gare Car and back, came along.
They talked football.
His son has the chance of a football apprenticeship.
He was an Headmaster now.
BEACH BUOY.
Friday, 4 September 2026
Thursday, 3 September 2026
TAKING PLACE ON BORROWED SAND
TAKING PLACE ON BORROWED SAND.
We leave footprints,
Paw prints too,
Some build Castles,
Enjoy the view,
But this place, where we stand,
It all takes place on borrowed sand.
The tide comes in,
The beach is sea,
Dogs and children,
They run free,
But this place where we stand,
It all takes place on borrowed sand.
Regular people ,
At regular times,
Walk to the sound,
Of Church Bell Chimes.
But this place where we stand,
It all takes place on borrowed sand.
A man had four dogs,
Walks with three,
Another Dog walks with me,
But this place, where we stand,
It all takes place on borrowed sand.
One by one,
We'll come no more,
What were the stack,
Of dune stones for?
All ghost stories, where you stand,
All took place on borrowed sand.
PAUL.
TOM, THE SUNDERLAND SUPPORTER. 1961-2026.
Above a screenshot of an earlier blog post from the day we first chatted.
Tom told me of his Cancer diagnosis.
We fist bumped as we left
Tom wore a mask.
We stopped to chat many times after that initial meeting.
We swapped emails addresses.
On January the first 2026, Tom was in the Car Park.
They wished each other Happy New Year.
Beach Buoy last saw Tom on 5, April 2026.
He passed on July 9 2026.
God bless mate.
I've looked back through the blog...
Here are some photos of Tom, Kira his dog and one from the last time l saw Tom.
He introduced me to his wife.
Kira.
Tom's Bosnian Rescue Dog.
5, April 2026.
A stone for Tom.
It's going to Stubborn Dog Stack.
Paul.
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