31 AUG 2020. BANK HOLIDAY AT SEATON, HARTLEPOOL HEADLAND ,THEN SEATON AGAIN.

'Morning!'
said Beach Buoy as he stepped out of the van.
'Morning!'
said the man walking the promenade whilst pushing his Old White Scottie Dog in its pushchair.
It was 6-45 a.m.

The tide was well out.
There was a slight breeze from the west.
The 7 am club were heading south as were Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog.
A fishing boat rumbled across the bay, perhaps taking a fishing trip out for the day?

They stacked the stack and headed along the beach to the North Gare Pier.

They had a slow walk back.
Beach Buoy wished 'That Monday morning feeling' was always like this Monday morning, it was almost perfect. 

Beach Buoy went back to the van and toasted a teacake as he drank coffee.
He left at nine but not before buying two more cars parking tickets.
He had heard the owners talking.
' We wont be long.'
Well it was nine o'clock, parking charges had started and Beach Buoy could see them down at the water's edge having loads of fun, oblivious to the time. 

Later on, around 3-30 pm to be more accurate, Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog went over to the Headland.
The sat and watched the world and couples go by.
The tide worked its way out.
They drove back to Seaton Sands, arriving at 6-25pm

The car park was busy, but thankfully the beach wasn't as crowded as what Beach Buoy had feared.

It was a  lovely evening.

Rockpool down near North Gare Pier.

Another slow walk back with various types of wading birds for company.
Some driftwood up in the dunes had caught Beach Buoy's eye.

The recent rough seas had sent this very old and heavy piece of driftwood ashore.

Dead Man's Fingers.
Beach Buoy thought it looked a little like Stubborn Dog.
The speck of sea coal added to the effect.


BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS, 30 AUG 2020. AN EVENING VISIT.

Beach Buoy had done an early morning beach with these two.
They had spent much of the day watching his every move.
Looked like another beach visit was on the cards.

6pm.
Beach.
The free parking had just started.
It was a lovely sunny evening.
The tide was well out.
The beach was fairly quiet to the south....

...and to the North.

A penknife.
Can it be saved?

More ghost fishing gear.
The rope wound around and over the rocks.
It was approx thirty metres total in length.
Beach Buoy removed and beach cleaned the rope with a lead weight attached 

They began a slow walk back.
The two dogs were just glad to be out.

What a difference a day makes.

Stroll.

What with two dogs in tow this morning, the clip that Beach  Buoy used to fasten dog leads to his bag broke under the strain.
Thankfully attached to the rope that he beach cleaned, he know had a much stronger and much larger one to use.

8 p.m.
Sea view.
Coffee.
Gone Fishing about to start on TV.

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS 30 AUG 2020.

Sunday morning at 6-50 am.
Beach Buoy had two dogs for company today.
There was a breeze from the North East, thankfully yesterday's winds had eased.
The breeze did have a chill.
The tide was well out.

Beach Buoy released the two floats from the rope.
He collected the rope on the way back and binned it.
Ghost fishing gear is a pain.

They stacked the stack and headed up to North Gare Pier.

More ghost fishing gear.
It was tangled up in a clump of seaweed.
Pretty design....

The breeze was strong enough for kites.
If they had flown them yesterday Beach Buoy reckons they would have ended up at Redcar?

Walter...
drop your guard a moment and his in your face.

Later in the day a 22 degree Sun Halo appeared.

BEACH BUOY.

HARTLEPOOL HEADLAND 29 08 2020

Rough.

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS, 29 AUGUST 2020.

It was a windy Saturday morning at 6-55 am.
They pulled into an empty, windswept car park.
Beach Buoy positioned the van so that when the side door of the van was open, they would be sheltered from the force of the Northerly wind.

The soft sand followed them south as did small droplets of rain.

The whole bay was wild.
Waves were breaking way out, giving the horizon a jagged saw-tooth like appearance. 
They went along to the North Gare Pier.

They had a slow walk back.
Driftwood was helping to shape the shifting sands.

They drove along to Newburn Bridge for breakfast.
BEACH BUOY.

TRIO 1901.

In November 1901
around 3-30 pm.

 there was a  ENE force 9 gale and a shipwreck taking place. 

My Great Grandfather; William Grainger SGM, was one of the Rocket Brigade 

crew 

trying to

 get a line to the Swedish ship; Trio.
The Gale was blowing the line back, so in his frustration my Great Grandfather 

tied a rope around his waist and swam out

 to help save life.
He was awarded a gold medal by the town ; a number of others were too, 

but only he was awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal.
Almost unbelievably the whole thing was photographed 

and reproduced thanks to Hartlepool Arts and Museum Service.

Some of the crew perished; one was making his final voyage home.

The Captain was one of those who survived.

The ship had left Port and headed North but dashed back to Hartlepool 
for safety when the weather turned. The weather was so bad that  it could not get into the 
Port and she was breaking up in Hartlepool Bay.
Note the men in flat caps watching.

More onlookers as the ship is at the Sea's mercy.

Masts are breaking up as the Ship is tossed around.

It looks like a puff of white smoke on the left,
 perhaps from the Rocket team? 

WILLIAM GRAINGER . SGM
1864-1946.

Eye witness account, written at a later date.

Page 2.

William and Biddy; his wife.

HIS SEA GALLANTRY MEDAL.

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS 28 AUG 2020.

They chose to park over at the Village Green again tonight.
It was around 6-10 pm when they reached the beach.
A strong wind blew from the north east.
They sat in the van a while before setting off.
A man walked the promenade.
He was pushing a pushchair with the help of a tail wind, the occupant was an Old White Scottie Dog.
Not long after they headed back.
This time they had a headwind for company.
The little dog's ears flapped in the wind.
A Seagull ran after a fish and chipper wrapper, like a welder chasing a ten pound note.

It was August but November 1 to 30 had turned up for their annual trip to the seaside

Driftwood.

They headed back...

They crossed over onto the promenade.
The Dodgems seemed to be huddling together in the hope that they would find some relief from the strong wind.

The Bus Station Clock Tower,

The flappiest flag award?

Coffee in van, watching the world and the sea go by.

BEACH BUOY.