It was a Saturday morning that felt like a Sunday thanks to Friday feeling like a Saturday........
Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog arrived at 6-44am.
Beach Buoy had to almost peel Stubborn Dog off the chair as they left the house.
The dog had looked at him with
"Could have had a lie in." eyes (Again.).
It was Grey with a cold wind from the North.
They reached the strand line at 6-55am.
A couple of people walked the beach to the north, near the village.
Meanwhile an already early 7 am club had headed south beyond Beach Buoy and also Chocolate Pudding and its owner who were playing catch up once more.
The sea was rough.
Sea Foam shivered along the water's edge.
It always made Beach Buoy think of ghostly souls of sailors, finally reaching land after a life and death at sea.
They waited in line hoping, that this tide was their turn.
As a gust of wind randomly freed them.
Beach Buoy felt like shouting
'Run lads, run to the stack, wait for me.
Tell me stories of the sea.
We'll have forever....'
Beach Buoy pictured a shack at the stack where the sailors would sit near a warm blazing fire to warm their soaked bones.
Each given a hip flask of rum, they could sip to take away the salty taste embedded on their dried and cracked lips.
Then a feast.
Then a sleep on a bed; a flat bed not a hammock.
A bed that didn't rock them to sleep, but held them safe like parents arms.
There shall be no more sea.
Just a beach to walk and talk things through,
for ever and ever.
The sound of screeching seagulls brought Beach Buoy back to the here and now.
He turned to see another late arrival for the 7am club with an escort of Gulls.
Gulls that circled and hovered above him like a flock that follows a fishing boat returning to port with its catch.
Mari the Large friendly Poodle bounded over.
Mid neck scratch she jumped up and licked Beach Buoy's face.
Her owner came over as he he sometimes does.
'She's not like that with anyone else.'
'Its not like you have dog biscuits or anything?'
'It'll be my charisma.'
Replied Beach Buoy.
L O N G P A U S E............
They spoke about; skylarks, dune fires, "bastards", Littler pickers, Mari the Poodle, The weather and twenty foot swells to come.
They headed in opposite directions after saying farewell.
Beach Buoy stacked the stack and reassured the ghostly ship-mates that they were safe now.
Beach Buoy left them in good spirits as they returned to the beach.
Sadly some of the sailors had become caught on the rocks in death as they had in life.
The sea grasped at their ankles, claiming them once more.
They headed back to the north.
A Driftwood Elephant was laid just beyond the water's edge.
It was collected.
They headed to the access ramp as more beach regulars, did regular things at regular times.
It crossed Beach Buoy's mind that they all may just be a giant's clockwork toy.
They were glad to see the van and the shelter it provided, there was coffee too.
Beach Buoy wrapped up his beach mate in the warmest of blankets, the ageing dog fell fast asleep.
Beach Buoy drank coffee as he watched Gulls fly overhead, via their reflection in the sink's tinted glass top in a Camera Obscura effect.
Beach Buoy had seen one in Douglas, Isle of Man many years ago.
Promenade People passed
as
Beach Buoy studied the driftwood elephant.
Beach Buoy recorded the finds and finished the coffee.
BEACH BUOY.
