 |
| Beach Buoy's factory trained body clock was ringing around 5-20 am once again. The trouble is this time of year the Sun has a sleep in. He faffed on a bit, as he tends to do. He had a coffee, as he tends to do. A short slow drive to the car park saw them sat in the van at 6-35 a.m. with hob on to warm them up a little, but to be honest it wasn't too cold. It was comfort thing and also a 'Because we can' thing. He changed into his beach boots as the little dog laid in his bed watching and waiting. The car park was deserted and dark. 6-51 am they headed to the beach by walking the short distance along the promenade. Beach Buoy had found a hat to pop on his head. Across the car park, towards the Golf Club, birds sang in the bushes as if it were spring. The Gulls crying down by the water's edge knew differently. There was no sunrise glow over the horizon this morning. There was however an orange glow to the south as the industry of the river lit up the dark sky. As he reached the water's edge Beach Buoy noticed two dark figures heading away to the North like shadows of their former selves. |
 |
| Beach Buoy stood and looked out to sea as the dawn's dimmer switch was slowly turned clockwise. The increasing light eventually revealed, a calm sea and a lumpy bumpy grey sky. Beach Buoy pulled up two hoods. As mentioned it wasn't too cold but it just felt like he was looking after himself. A glance to the North confirmed that the 7am club were on time and on their way. Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog headed south as the calm sea pulled across itself like drawing curtains. Beach Buoy put his gloved hands behind his back and continued on like some old man.... Paths of shingle crossed the sands; a beach Zebra Crossing? |
 |
| There had been no sign of sunlight, that was until a window opened briefly in the clouds. It gave the chance for the sun to act like a beacon reflecting on the sea, giving a guiding light between the two Gares. The photograph didn't capture it accurately, it was both beautiful and eerie. Beach Buoy grabbed two rocks and added them to the ashes pile on the dune edge, over-looking the Sea Serpent. A Big Fat Crow, as round as a football and as black as a Referee's shirt blocked their way. It reluctantly walked slowly away as they approached. Of course that is harking back to a time when Referees all wore black, Goalkeepers all wore green apart from Celtic's goalkeeper, who wore yellow........ Then back to the present and the beach, to continue to the North Gare Pier, passing two beach fishermen as they did so. Beach Buoy found a bum shaped rock and took off his gloves, placing them on the rock to stop the damp penetrating the denim of his jeans with the added benefit of a cushioning effect of the glove; even a bum shaped rock isn't very bum shaped. Beach Buoy took out his beach book to make a few notes. Then it started; rain. His writing on the pages became blotches of ink as the fine rain fell on the pages and onto his bare hands. He packed up his book, gathered up his damp gloves and began to head back. |
 |
| The fishermen of England popped up a pop-up shelter and continued to fish. Then the rain stopped; a magic pop-up shelter? |
 |
| A jogger jogged by, waving a raised arm as he did so, to a brisk walker on the dune edge. The brisk walker waved back. |
 |
| Beach Buoy looked to see just how far out the tide had gone. A couple of more brisk walkers walked briskly to the north. |
 |
| The shingle gave up this fellow... more shortly. |
 |
| This snappy dresser was added to the beach clean items that were in Beach Buoy's bag. The reached the promenade. They Binned the beach clean items, then rested on the promenade wall a while. One of the brisk walkers was returning to the beach with food; he was the fisherman who must have drawn the short straw? |
 |
| The picture of the sea pottery with part of a poem or motto on created a bit of interest on the internet. The helpful @Eve_Mc_Donnell was first past the post with pictures of pottery items showing the full text and a link or two too. Here is one.. Cider Mugs. |
 |
| After that success, Beach Buoy flagged up this find from a while back. It was on the small beach below the Abbey where Dracula had landed. Once agin @Eve_Mc_Donnell came up Trumps with Forgive and forget. So a thank you from Beach Buoy and also to the others who joined in with additional information. You know who you are. Thank You all! BEACH BUOY. |
