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| Back in time... about 1962? Down by the dunes at Seaton Sands. It was a big deal going to Seaton Carew for the day. It would sometimes involve two buses. No.7 or 8 into town and wait for a No. 13 to the Beach. We had a white cotton tent; just a small one. No sewn-in groundsheet back then and thinking on I can't imagine how the tent poles and guide ropes pegs managed to stay in the soft sand? I remember hardboiled egg sandwiches, made with white bread. We always ended up getting sand in the sandwiches maybe off our hands. |
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| Fast- forward a few years, then a few more. It was around 8-10 a.m. A lady came up asking what breed of Dog Stubborn Dog was. She said that her white Scottie Dog didn't like Shitzus. It was Ok as Stubborn Dog isn't one of those. Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog headed to the water's edge then south. Dark Clouds hung in the sky beyond the River like a threat. It was a mild day. A couple of beach regulars and their Collie Dog were a minute or two behind Beach Buoy. Beach Buoy headed up to the dunes to let them have the water's edge to themselves. |
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| Beach Buoy is trying not to collect too many beach finds but this piece ended up in his beach bag. |
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| The couple carried on around the corner and made use of the step in the dunes made by a recent high tide. It made a perfect seat to sit and watch the busy North Sea break onto the shore. Beach Buoy went into the dunes so as not to disturb their peace. |
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| He climbed down some of the grey rocks and found the most comfortable of the uncomfortable rocks to sit on and have a think of his own. The sea was dramatic. It was hitting the end of the North Gare Pier, rising up and travelling along its length like a drawn curtain. The Sea was grey with white foam. After making shore, the water would head back out to sea to do battle with the in-coming waves. The out-going was dappled with a lemon reflection from the sky above. 5 Cormorants passed heading north. They seemed to be struggling to maintain height and formation, like a squadron of damaged bombers returning from a mission. More Cormorant passed as Beach Buoy sat and watched the world go by. Four, flying in a much more confident manner and a straighter line too. Then another three. All of them were heading north from the River. |
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| Beach Buoy eventually headed back. Someone else was making use of the natural seat made on the dune's step. |
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| A broken tape measure caught Beach Buoy's eye. It went in the bag along with.. Various plastic bottles. A plastic spade handle. Some blue sponge balls. A plastic basket. Energy drink can. A spray can. All beach cleaned. |
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| Beach Buoy paused and looked to the south. Thankfully the north-west wind was blowing the dark away from Seaton Carew. |
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| The sky was clearer to the North. |
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| Beach Buoy carried Stubborn Dog for last part of the walk as lots of dry sand was being blown out to sea at Stubborn Dog's eye level. You can see the lighter shifting sands in the photograph above. |
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| Later Beach Buoy washed and waxed the van... again! He then fitted the replacement sticker that had been damaged last week by persons unknown. The van has been at Nurburgring so he was keen to keep the history of the van. The lower writing is from the original sticker. Beach Buoy was keen to keep that too. BEACH BUOY. |
