TUESDAY 31 MARCH 2020, ALLOWED EXERCISE WALK.

An evening allowed exercise walk.
It was mild but dull.
A surfer surfed.
People kept their distance.

strange times..
Beach Buoy.

MONDAY 3O MARCH, 2020 ... ALLOWED EXERCISE WALK.

Strange times.....
Beach Buoy.

SUNDAY 29, MARCH 2020. ALLOWED EXERCISE WALK.

Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog left the house at 1-04pm for their allowed exercise walk, during the virus lockdown.
As they headed down Elizabeth Way a Bus went past; an Empty Bus, just a driver.
A couple of minutes later ... yet another Empty Bus.
'Typical.'thought Beach Buoy, No one waits all day for one and two turn up together.
They walked to Seaton Common Bridleway, that runs alongside  Seaton Carew Golf Club.

Before too long a family group were in hot pursuit.
Beach Buoy stopped and leaned on the nearby fence let them pass.
' He is a slow walker.'
explained Beach Buoy. 

They headed towards the North Gare.

They left the Bridleway and crossed the Golf Course via the Public Right of Way.
No Golfers to stop today.

They paused in the cold wind to look at the River and to listen to the Skylarks that were singing overhead,

They took the road back.
They had a strong wind and Lapwings for company. 

Beach Buoy was glad he met these three at the very end of the open road.

They joined Tees Road and headed back
with the wind and a face full of hail for company.

BEACH BUOY.

SATURDAY, 28 MARCH, 2020. ALLOWED EXERCISE WALK.

Beach Buoy left the van on the drive and made the short walk to the Promenade with Stubborn Dog in tow.
There was a breeze as he left the house.
It swirled around the buildings, so it was difficult to judge its direction.
As they reached the main road at 6-01 am a Police Car passed and slowed down slightly.
Beach Buoy was doing  his allowed exercise so it was all good.
Allowed Exercise! my how things have changed.
Back in the day you could go anywhere at anytime, imagine that.

They headed along the Promenade as the signs were still in place asking people to refrain from going on the beach.

It was 6-16 am.

They had missed the sunrise.
The sun and seagull were up with the clouds.

The promised land.
Beach Buoy looked but didn't touch.

They headed back.
The breeze had turned out to be a cold northerly wind.

Some people were on the beach...

BEACH BUOY.

FRIDAY 27 MARCH, 2020.

Strange times.
Beach still closed.
Chose a night promenade as my allowed exercise.
Roads quiet again, pubs closed, food outlets closed.
People avoiding people.
It is a terrible virus.
Its hard to imagine things ever returning to
'Normal.'

The Sea glass Sculpture.

The Staincliffe Hotel and the moon.


Stay Safe.
BEACH BUOY.

THURSDAY 26 MARCH 2020.

Doing the allowed exercise means a trip along a dark Promenade.
The light was fading, the shops and roads were quiet.
It was around 7p.m. and felt more like 3a.m.
Lone joggers jogged, running as though they had just heard that the local shop had had a delivery of toilet rolls.

Cyclists cycled in twos.
People walked in pairs.
Is someone building an Ark somewhere nearby?

All in all people doing the right thing.
We didn't see this coming.
Its only week one,
two to go
or is it eleven?
Time will tell.
Stay Safe.


BEACH BUOY.

WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2020.

No Beach.....
BEACHLESS BUOY.

TUESDAY 24 MARCH 2020.

WAS NOT ON BEACH.
BEACH CLOSED.

MONDAY 23 MARCH 2020

WAS NOT ON BEACH.

BEACH IS CLOSED.

SUNDAY 22 MARCH 2020. SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL.

As they left the house a Grey Pigeon sat in a Bare Grey Tree.
They arrived shortly afterwards at a Milky Grey Bay.
It was 6-57 am
The 7 am club were already on their way.
Today they had larger gaps between them.
The beach was almost empty and the tide out.
Room for all without worries of becoming too close to anyone.
Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog took the strand line route and headed south.
A couple with a Beagle had chosen the water's edge.
It was a little chilly.
Chilly enough to dig hands into pockets half hoping that there would be a pair of gloves inside.
There wasn't so pockets it was.
aka
Idiot Gloves.
He stacked the stack and headed back to the beach, then back to the north.
The Skylarks said farewell.

Beach Buoy paused and turned to the south.
He thought about how he had almost wished the winter away and now with light nights a week away, he would be almost wishing the next 12 weeks away too; Bloody virus!

He said farewell to the beach.

Back at base camp it was bath time.
Stubborn Dog went to his regular waiting spot at the top of the stairs.

Seaton Carew Sand Dunes around 1962... well it is Mother's day after all.
That's Beach Buoy on the right.

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON CAREW, HARTLEPOOL. FRIDAY, 21 MARCH 2020.

They reached the car park at 3-46 pm.
There was a fresh breeze coming over from the north east.
Due to the virus the schools would be closing today.
Some seem to have gone to the beach as soon as they did so?
Beach Buoy has the feeling that this may be the longest school summer holiday ever?

They headed south, keeping well away from the other beach folk.
A small excitable but friendly dog called Molly rushed over to see Stubborn Dog.
She couldn't decide wether to use Stubborn Dog as a hurdle or a bridge as she encircled the bemused dog.

They headed up to the dune stack to add a stone or two.

A sad scene.....
Just a few metres from the stack was a Small Brown Rabbit.
Its erect ears flapped in the breeze, the rest of the animal was motionless.
It look as if was sleeping but had passed on.

A rainbow welcomed them back onto the beach.
Of course you only have a rainbow when there is rain about.
It came straight at Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog.
It seemed like either side of them was still bathed in sunshine.
The rainbow vanished as the rain stopped.

They were a little damp.
They headed back to the van.
The temperature seemed to drop.
It was a nice warm welcome in the van, the earlier sun had warmed it up nicely.

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL. 17 MARCH 2020.

Tuesday 4 pm
It was mild.
there was a chill to the breeze from the west.
Whenever the breeze dropped slightly the mildness of the air became apparent.

Plenty of space to be had today.

Ah!
A dip dip dip came into view and port.
It may have been called the Cup & Saucer?

They went up to the dune stack.
They had a sit and think down on the dune edge.

Stubborn Dog watched as two dogs ran down by the water's edge, chasing Gulls and each other once they realised that they couldn't fly.

They headed back as a likely storm brewed.

Later that night Stubborn Dog did his
ANOTHER WALK stare
as always it worked.
Dark pavements are a poor substitute for bright beaches.

TAKE CARE EVERYONE.
BEACH BUOY.