It's a long way to Tipperary, so the song goes.
Thankfully it's a short drive from base to the beach.
They reached the windy car park at 6-46 am.
They headed for the strand line.
Sunrise would be around 7-06 am.
The wind was a strong south westerly.
It was a mild wind.
Fine spots of rain drifted in the air from the east.
The tide was well out this morning.
Grey lumpy clouds filled most of the sky.
There was a hint of clear sky where in theory the sun should rise...
Overhead, Gulls twisted and turned as they tried to make headway into the strong wind.
Dry, soft sand drifted across the beach, heading for the headland.
To be honest the sunrise was a bit of a flop.
There was just a momentary glow of orange over beyond the river, then it was gone.
The higher dunes did offer some shelter from the strong wind.
The 7 am club were to the north, heading south.
Three Cormorant headed south too, flying close to the sea as if trying to avoid radar.
The 7 am club eventually overtook an ambling Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog.
One of the club's dogs headed for the sea.
It was a large white retriever type dog.
It walked in the sea a while, before crossing back across the beach to join the group.
It padded across the wet sand like a Polar Bear on the hunt.
It's long fur blew in in the wind.
They stacked the stack.
A bit like digging your own grave, but at least they both know were they are heading and what with the Lurgy coming closer and closer, well you never know when.....
Beach Buoy glanced inland.
An Industrial stack burnt off waste gas.
A ball of bright orange flame danced in the wind.
It was making a better show than what the sunrise had done.
They headed back.
Perhaps spurred on by the light of the industrial stack, the sun began to shine, a little at first.
They headed back to a waking Seaton Carew.
What would this page of 2020 have in store for everyone?
Time would tell.
The wind pushed them along as if they were late for a meeting.
They were in no rush; they had forever......
The sun did itself proud.
Like all the good things, worth the wait and all of the dark clouds.
Never let your shadow appear in the photograph.
Not ever.
Never.
They returned to the mobile beach hut; sanctuary from the gusting wind.
They drove to the sea front, parking just in front of a lime green VW van.
They listened to the radio a while as coffee was drank.
Then time to go.
BEACH BUOY.
