It was a Saturday.
Beach Buoy had been to work.
He left work, next to the River Tees at 3pm.
By 3-27, he and Stubborn Dog were in the beach car park for their allowed exercise.
The car park was as bright and almost as busy as a summer's day.
The cold air made sure that everyone was under no illusions that it was in fact still January.
As they headed down the beach access ramp, a lady and her two small daughters were leaving the beach.
" Can we have an Ice Cream ?"
"An Ice Cream? It's freezing!"
She was right.
The sand on the non-tidal part of the beach was frozen solid.
An egg yoke sun began to settle behind the dunes.
The air was cold. as a chilled breeze blew gently across the dunes down on to the beach below.
A great deal of sand had been taken lately by strong winds and seas.
Much of the beach near the car park was a mass of shingle.
The colours all seemed so crisp and so very bright.
The whites; the gulls and the breaking surf looked like they had been recently painted for a Royal visit.
Down at the water's edge a big Dog tested the water by running in, then turning back and jumping up at its owner.
Much to the owner's vocal surprise.
Meanwhile Stubborn Dog tested the water in another way by stopping to see how Beach Buoy would react.
Eyes met and Stubborn Dog sensed that today, no way.
The walk went on.....
The tide was way out.
The south end of the beach was quiet.
The Promenade and Fish and Chip shops were much busier.
Lockdown or no lockdown.
They headed up to Stubborn Dog Stack.
Beach Buoy had collected five large and very cold beach stones to add to the ever increasing pile.
The sky to the west looked glorious.
The sunset made the horizon blush.
A driftwood creature walked the frozen dune edge.
The shingle had given up a few fragments.
They were left for others.
A jogger headed North as if doing a long distance pitch invasion at Hartlepool United.
The two higher, bright lights at the left of the photograph are floodlights at Victoria Park.
Today's game would still being played.
No fans allowed or aloud due to covid regulations.
The clear sky seemed to make the daylight last longer.
On a gloomy day it would already feel dark.
They headed back as the light faded away gradually.
It was a slow walk back.
It was dark when they reached the van.
The Hungry Seagull were still serving customers.
BEACH BUOY.
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Beach Buoy posted the photograph above a while back.
He liked the contrast.
An artist; Liz O'neill said she
would like to do a painting.
There it is below.
Love the contrast.
Love the little ship.
Love the three seagulls.
It is all sort of meant to be.
Whenever Beach Buoy's Dad did a drawing, he always drew three seagulls on it.
It turns out Liz does the same.
Thanks for sharing.
If you sing, you are a Singer.
If you write, you are a Writer.
If you take photographs , you are a Photographer,
If you paint or draw you are an Artist.
BEACH BUOY.
