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| Beach Buoy arrived at the beach at 5-45 am. The car park was empty, but would be busy later thanks to the Bank Holiday, whatever the weather. When Beach Buoy went to the side of the van to collect Stubborn Dog, he realised it may pay to wear something a little warmer . He donned a warmer hoodie and located his beach bag. As he changed in the back of the van, the wind whistled a tune through the gap in the partially closed side door. It was more FROSTY THE SNOMAN than THE SUN HAS GOT HIS HAT ON. Saying that, the Sun would need its hat and maybe a scarf and gloves too! There was a thick blanket of cloud stretching across the Bay that seemed to be heading out to sea, carried by the wind. |
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| A ship left the shelter of the River Tees and headed out for open seas, as another almost identical ship was waiting to trade places. |
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| The ship sailed into the distance as the clouds looked low and heavy as if ready to burst. It looked almost as dark as night on the horizon........ |
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| Suddenly a cloud momentarily moved from in front of the sun and the whole beach was awash with bright sunlight. |
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| Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog trekked South, alternating between the water's edge and any patches of shingle that caught his attention. Sand Martins swooped by at low levels searching the beach for breakfast. The incoming ship closed in on the river as three tugs waited to collect and guide it to its berth in the River Tees. |
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| The wind had picked up a little and felt it colder. Beach Buoy was glad of the change of clothes he made before the walk began. They walked as far as the North Gare Pier then turned to slowly walk back. |
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| The beach was still empty of others. As they headed back, the random shafts of light that had spotlighted the sea had turned to the land. One light shone on a lone house on the headland, amongst the otherwise line of grey dwellings. Beach Buoy could almost hear the voice of Loyd Grossman saying "Who lives in a house like this?" |
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| The light would change from minute to minute. The wind seemed to have turned slightly and now seemed like it was blowing from the north? All Beach Buoy knew was that he was walking face onto it now and his hood was struggling to stay on Beach Buoy's fat head. |
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| It was without doubt a wonderful morning. |
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| It was now 7am. Beach Buoy could see the 7am club just arriving on time, on beach. |
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| They could have the dramatic beach to themselves for a while as Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog headed back to the van. |
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| The wind had picked up, so Beach Buoy picked up his little-legged mate as a low level sandstorm blew the dry sand out to sea. |
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| Beach Buoy binned the beach clean items. He hadn't noticed a memorial plate that had been added to the last bench on the promenade. He googled the gentleman and thought "Nice one." A jogger ran to the end of the promenade and then bent double over the wall. He reached for his mobile phone, either to check his time or possibly to Book-face his run. Beach Buoy sat in the van a while. The jogger sat on the bench. He looked just how Beach Buoy felt. BEACH BUOY. |
