It was a Sunday morning.
Beach Buoy woke at 5-46 am
He hadn't gone to bed until after 1 am so he rolled the duvet like a curling wave and drifted off to sleep.
He woke once more.
It was 6-45am
Same numbers, just a different order.
By 7 am the kettle was boiling.
With a nod to an old TV show for children he looked through the rectangular window that faced the direction of the beach.
A hint of light blue!
He pre-warmed then filled a thermal cup with coffee.
He readied himself for the beach.
He glanced over towards Stubborn Dog.
The little dog was fast asleep, curled up like an @ symbol or maybe a cat.
Or even perhaps a c@t on a m@t?
He may take some coaxing this morning, thought Beach Buoy.
There was no need to worry.
Once Stubborn Dog heard the jingle jangle of a bunch of keys he waited to be dressed in beach attire.
As Beach Buoy loaded the van, gulls passed overhead laughing at one another.
They arrived the dark car park at 7-40 am
As they walked to the water's edge, a socially distancing 7 am club were just passing on the way back to the north.
Gulls seemed somewhat playful in the half light once more.
They twisted and turned, looking glad to be alive or maybe just glad daylight was on its way?
One large gull wasn't taking part in this morning's aerial display.
He chose to stand at the strand line, arguing with two crows as to whose beach it actually was.
Beach Buoy watched as another gull flew along a breaking wave; almost surfing.
As the wave broke the surfing gull tilted it's wings a few degrees and was gone, off into the distance.🏄
There was a fresh breeze from the south west.
It crossed the dunes as it headed for them.
A couple of regulars beachcombed up ahead.
They had a Border Collie.
The man entertained the eager dog whilst the lady collected beach finds in a small bag that she always seemed to carry.
There was another beach-goer up ahead walking alongside where the dunes met the beach.
There had been a sand bank collapse on some of the dunes.
The beach-goer walked south.
The steep, newly-exposed sand bank was decreasing in height the further she travelled.
She reached the point of perfection where the dune height matched exactly the perfect height of a seat.
She sat perfectly supported by the throne of sand , looking out to sea like a princess would her kingdom.
Beach Buoy and Stubborn continued the journey south.
As they did so they passed dog-dug holes in the sand.
So many holes this morning Beach Buoy wondered if one of the 7am club dogs had received an early Christmas present of a metal detector?
They headed up and stacked the stack.
Five beach stones today.
Note from Editor:- if you are ever passing please feel free to add to Stubborn Dog Stack, he'd be so pleased.
They headed back down to the beach.
A crow stood ahead looking for all the world like a nightclub bouncer.
'ID mate?'
Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog gave the large bird a wide berth.
Beach Buoy wondered if the bird had been working out?
Nearby was the evidence that indeed it had.
Scrawled on the sand was
2+2= 4
A Ferens and Love brick.
Mr Ferens married Miss Love.
Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog clambered up dunes as big as houses to reach the North Gare Pier to gain a view of the river and hopefully a glimpse of the rising sun.
A photographer stood behind a tripod nearby, possibly waiting for the same.
Beach Buoy stood atop the highest highest dune with his mate in arms.
They had a stand and think.
Three adults clambered up the house-high dunes, one had a non toddling toddler on his shoulders.
"Oh Look!" said the camel to the toddler...
"Another beach!"
Beach Buoy knew that feeling so well.
Like a moody pop star the sun didn't show up at the arranged time.
They returned to the beach, as predictably, the sun appeared.
It was Sunny Seaton Carew after all!
A wonderful cloud hung in the sky to the west, beyond the dunes.
The late arrival sun,
followed them back to the van.
Beach Buoy would rather live in a shack by the sea than a mansion in the country.
Maybe he will one day?
The tide going out, like an artist stepping back to admire their latest sculpture.
They continued North.
A Young Springer Spaniel come over and got a little too close to Stubborn Dog.
Beach Buoy picked his beach mate up.
Boy!.... that spring on the Springer Spaniel was springy.
It sprung up and down as high as Beach Buoy wanting to play with Stubborn Dog.
Beach Buoy managed to reach into his beach bag and find one a few beach-found tennis balls that he had found on the beach.
He managed to throw the bright green ball and in a flash, the bouncing pup was off on the chase.
Not the TV show.
Bradley hadn't been on the beach for a good few weeks.
The dog was just chasing the ball.
A jogger passed as they approached the access ramp.
He had one of his legs tattooed.
Wearing his heart on his sleeve or on his leg to be more precise.
It's the tattoos etched on the inside that count the most;
they stay sharp and clear always.
