BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY. 31 MAY 2021. SEATON SANDS. SEATON CAREW, HARTLEPOOL.

Beach Buoy and Morrissey reached the beach car park at 6-18 a.m.

Morrissey minded the van as Beach Buoy headed down the access ramp to the beach.

He passed the distant wave lady and her Mother, who were already leaving the beach.

"Morning." passed back and forth.

She gave that look... the where is his dog but dare I asked look?

It was a damp greyish start to the day.

If the sky had been drawn with a 6H pencil, then the piers at either end of the bay had been sketched with a 2B.

Beach Buoy noted this in his beach note book with his 3 H pencil.

Suddenly there were two paws on his waist; two wet paws.

This was becoming a regular event on recent beach visits.

A very wet and very wiggly Golden Retriever Pup looked up at him.

"Sorry." sad the Dog owner.

"No problem."

A lady and her Beagle walked by.

Like Beach Buoy they were heading South.

Beach Buoy paused to look at the sea from the Water's edge, so as to give the lady and her Dog some space.

The Beagle lady paused to chat to beach combers, both with bags in hand.

The Beagle became bored and headed for the dunes.

The Owner peep-peeped on her peep peep Dog Whistle to no effect.

A figure sat nearby on a driftwood bench watching the beach drama unfold before them with folded arms.

Eventually an 

"Oscar!" used in conjunction with a peep peep did the trick.

Reunited they headed back to the North.

Stubborn Dog Stack approached.

Beach Buoy collected a few stones to add.

One was an almost perfect sandstone heart.

More tears as he climbed the dune edge to reach the stack.

It was real.

He had gone.

"Morning Mate."

He added the stones, pacing the heart in a special place.

He added a couple of larger stones before sitting down at the dune edge.

The Sun was burning through slightly.

The morning warmed.

The morning brightened.

A three strong 7 a.m. club walked by the water's edge.

Raised arms and "Morning." were exchanged.

"Nice to see the Sun." one of the club shouted across the beach with a raised arm pointing at the said Sun.

Mari the big friendly poodle was almost dancing on Beach Buoy as he sat and she searched for a neck scratch.

It was found.

The 7 a.m. club headed back.

Beach Buoy stood to check the stack.

A man appeared from the north.

He had two Brown and White Spaniels.

The man was a 66 year old ex- steelworker.

They talked about Dogs.

They talked about Dogs dying .

The man had buried his in his garden and planted an apple tree there.

They chatted about work, the overtime, hours lost forever.

They went their separate ways.

Beach Buoy said 'Goodbye." to Stubborn Dog and headed back.

He photographed some half - hearted finds.

He walked back by the sea.

It was going to be packed later.

Later, he went on a cycle ride to Middleton via the Promenade.

Middleton from Old Town.

He cycled back.

Lunch later in the van with a sea view.

Back to the beach with a Son-in-law,Grandson and their dog.

It was 7-48 p.m.

"Night night mate."

They followed a high tide back.

 People beach-fished.

Beach Buoy.

SUNDAY 30 MAY 2021. SEATON CAREW, SEAHAM AND SEATON CAREW.

Beach Buoy had headed for bed around 12-40 am.

He woke.

It felt like 6-30 am.

He laid a while before looking at his phone to check the time.

It was 4-50 am.

Time to head downstairs.

By 5-24 am, Beach Buoy, Morrissey and a thermal cup of Coffee were heading for the beach.

By 5-30 am Beach Buoy and the Coffee were stood down by the water's edge.

A Fog-filtered Sun poured a sea of milk.

A Fog Buzzer buzzed; oh for the sound of an old-fashioned Fog Horn.

To the North, two sea swimmers entered the water.

The tide was well in.

He headed South.

The air was still.

The few Wind Turbines that were visible were idle.

He headed for the stack....

A gap in the dunes showed a Red and White Scrapyard Crane as erect as a rocket, fittingly it was pointing at the moon.

The incoming tide shaped the south end of the beach like an arrow head.

Stubborn Dog Stack, the point.

The only point.

He spotted the stack through another gap.

He gathered some stones and headed up the dune edge towards the stack.

"Morning Mate..."

He patted "The" rock and went to sit on the dune edge just in front of the stack.

He had reached the stack before 6 am.

He was grateful for such a glorious start to the day.

He gathered some more Rocks.

He sat.

He gathered some more Rocks.

He sat.

The beach was so empty, it almost felt everyone was letting them have this time together but alone.

Skylark's sang.

The Sea rumbled and tumbled.

Beach Buoy looked out to sea as his rubbed imaginary Stubborn Dog Ears.

A Ghostly ship entered The River Tees.

The beach was empty.

He drank Coffee, enjoyed the sea and the closeness of his old beach buddy.

Beach Buoy closed his eyes, imagined his mate was sat beside him and let the sun's heat warm his face.

The sun came and went as a sea fret swirled around.

He photographed some finds.

6-49 a.m.

An early 7 a.m  club were heading south.

Beach Buoy had enjoyed almost an hour with his mate in complete peace.

The 7 am club were lovely people but Beach Buoy didn't think that he could manage to chat; not today.

He rose and  walked south to a small dip in the dunes and sat down.

The dip both muffled and funnelled the sound of the sea.

Three Oyster Catchers whistled as they flew overhead.

It was like they were trying to give away Beach Buoy location.

Skylarks sang their hearts out.

The sea sparkled in the areas where the sun had managed to burn through and reach.

Strips of  North Sea highlighted like important section of text in a book.

A Cormorant skimmed the sea like a thrown piece of slate.

He began a slow walk back.

The 7 a.m. club were way ahead.

The trouble is, his slow walks back are quicker now that he doesn't have Stubborn Dog on tow.

One of the 7 a.m club approached.

"Have you lost him?"

"Yes, he was too ill.

"He's lost him!"

Another member approached.

"So sorry."

"I know you don't walk with us but he was one of the beach dog-walking family."

Gaps were filled in and they went their separate ways.

Coffee in Van.

Promenade people.

Promenade Horses.

Later it was Seaham.

No Beach.

Just 

Food

Sit

Nod

Stare

Coffee.

At 7-12 p.m. he was back at Seaton Sands.

The last of the day's sea fret was disappearing over the horizon, looking like a pair of giant rabbit ears.

Tail-ends of days out were being played out.

Most were heading back to their cars.

The Sun had heat.

The tide had height.

A lady passed with two Border Collies on two separate leads, head in one hand. They were trying to herd her in two different directions.

In her spare hand she was carrying a Border Collie Puppy.

Stubborn Dog Stack.

It was 7-37 p.m.

"Hiya mate..."

A young couple were at the water's edge.

They threw stones into the sea and caution to the wind.

Beach Buoy placed the Seahouses and Craster stones onto the Stack.

He said the place names out loud as he did so.

He added some more Seaton Carew stones.

He sat on the dune edge at 7-47pm.

Perfect timing for another quiet beach.

Quiet to the south at least.

He sat with his mate as he looked at a royal blue sea, rippling under a light blue sky.

There was a refreshing breeze off the sea.

Time to go.

He patted "The" stone.

"Night night mate."

He headed back with watery eyes for company.

The north was busy.

Pony and Trap

People.

Dogs.

One group were trying to a photograph of their four Dogs together with front paws resting on some driftwood.

One of the four wasn't keen.

"Luna!"

"Luna!"

Beach Buoy reckoned that the little Dog's  surname was tick.

It was dashing here, there and everywhere.

He went to claim sanctuary in the van.

BEACH BUOY.

SATURDAY, 29 MAY 2021. SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL.

Beach Buoy had went up to bed around 1a.m.

He checked the time of the sunrise; 4-38 a.m.

He set an alarm for 4-08.

4-08 a.m; the alarm did what alarms do.

Beach Buoy dressed.

He headed downstairs after gathering Stubborn Dog's ashes and Morrissey the Sloth from nearby.

Morrissey had been Stubborn's Dog's toy.

The toy had  been hugging the box of ashes since they were returned.

Beach Buoy made a coffee to go in a Thermal Cup for the beach walk.

Today was the day Stubborn Dog was heading for the stack.

Beach Buoy, Stubborn Dog and Morrissey headed for the beach; the last time for Stubborn Dog.

It was foggy.

The damp air was still.

They drove past the Golf Club.

The Golf Club Flag hung on the flag pole, heavy with the dampness. 

Motionless due to the stillness of the early morning air.

It was 4-28 when they reached the beach car park.

Unsurprisingly, the car park was empty.

Beach Buoy placed Stubborn Dog into his beach bag.

He slung a garden spade over his shoulder, he had made a makeshift carrying strap for the occasion.

He set off to carry out the task in hand.

Hi-Ho Hi-Ho etc

At least three of the seven dwarves names would be a fitting title for Beach Buoy.

A Milky Moon watched from over the dunes .

 A CCTV Camera from over the car park watched them head down the beach access ramp.

Visibility was very poor, saying that he could see the Moon!

He headed to the water's edge.

To the North much of the village had been claimed by greyness.

To  the south; nothing but Grey.

The 4-38 am "Sunrise." came and went unnoticed.

Out to the east, Invisible Gulls called out over a hidden sea.

Only the final beach-broken waves were on show.

He continued south. 

The stack came into view.

Beach Buoy dug down deep.

The fog-damp sand seemed to hold well.

He placed his mate's ashes into the hole.

He placed some rocks above, before back-filling the hole with sand.

He shuffled sand around with his feet as he wondered what anyone would think  if they could see him; they couldn't. 

He added more large stones that will eventually make a ring around the stack. Heavy stones, difficult to move.

Beach Buoy sat on the dune edge.

He drank his coffee and pondered about things.

He had hoped for a golden sunrise to see his mate off, but to be honest the foggy grey morning was just about perfect.

Skylarks sang over the dunes behind him.

A Sand Martin did a fly-past from gloom to gloom.

Warmer air drifted across the beach, the fog cleared slightly.

He picked up a small stone, kissing it before placing it on the stack and choked out an audible "Goodbye."

He collected a couple more large stones for the stack before setting off North.

It was hard saying goodbye for the first time.

Beach Buoy turned to look back at the south  constantly as he travelled northwards, in the faint hope that he would see his mate's image; he didn't.

The stack was out of view all too soon.

He went back to the van.

He made another coffee.

"What now?" Morrissey seemed to ask.

Beach Buoy isn't sure to be honest.

He photographed some found finds.

He sat and had a think.

He took the van and Morrissey back to base camp.

He headed out on his bike.

Beach Huts....

 

Sea glass sculpture, Seaton Carew Promenade.

BEACH BUOY.

STUBBORN DOG.

 He would have been ten next month.

He was more than a Dog.

He was a Son, Father, Grandad, Best Friend, Co-Pilot, Beach Buddy and Blog Co-writer.

A best of friends.

A reason.

Friends on an adventure that ended way too soon.

He would run downstairs on three legs, he never used his back left leg on stairs.

He would greet you at front door if you had been at work, give you a brief hello before running into the back room with a shoe or some of the day's delivered post.

You had to come to him

He would let you know if it was bedtime, or if you had been on the phone or PC too long.

He was Stubborn, a cat in a dog costume.

It was like he could talk.

He trained me well.

I hope he can forgive me my failings.

I miss him too much.

I lay at night, hoping to feel him jump up on the bed.

He was a one off.

Coast Magazine Dog of the Month back in the day.

He is off to the Stubborn Dog Stack forever tomorrow.

Wait for me mate.

Please.

Beach Buoy.

THURSDAY 27 MAY 2021. SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL.

Beach Buoy reached the car park at 6-46 pm.

A Scout group were being busy bees.

There was a wind off the sea.

The tide was on the way out.

High tide had been about an hour ago at a guess.

Beach Buoy headed South, narrowly avoiding a near miss by a Dog's ball thrown by a lady nearby.

He headed south towards Stubborn Dog Stack.

The sea rolled and ran.

Beach Buoy stumbled and walked with his hands planted deeply in his pockets.

A man beach-combed nearby with a blue plastic bag and a flat cap.

The finds went into the bag.

His head went into the hat.

As Beach Buoy continued South, the wind was picking up more than the Flat-capped man.

Beach Buoy went to Stubborn Dog Stack.

It had been disturbed.

Around twenty stones had been removed and thrown around; it is going to happen.

Beach Buoy replaced them and added a couple more.

He went down to the beach and carried the heaviest rocks that he could carry.

He made a start surrounding the stack with much heavier stones.

If they want to disturb those, then they are going to have to work for it.

Five was a start.

It will be fully encompassed and kept in good order.

A cable drum side becomes driftwood.

He made a half-hearted attempt at FINDS.

"That's what Tiggers Do."

The Sun hung below a hanging cloud as he headed for the van.

There was a commotion in the distance.

The lifeboat was just offshore.

Ambulance and Police on Promenade.

Coastguard on beach.

It turned out to be that a Jet Ski rider had broken his leg badly and was off his machine.

They say he was in a bad way and his companions distraught.

A local sea swimming club; The Brass Monkeys happened to be on the beach and swam out to save the man.

Well done.

BEACH BUOY.

TUESDAY 25 MAY 2021. SEATON SANDS.

Beach Buoy still hadn't decided what angle to take now that Stubborn Dog has gone.

Do beaches, do Blog etc.

It's so odd being without him.

Beach Buoy reached the car park at 6-32pm.

A man had some contraption resting on the promenade wall.

It looked like some sort of machine gun that one would expect to see on Dr.Who.

It was pointing at the Little Tern nest site.

It seemed to be recording the birds in some way.

Lights flashed on and off.

It was a pleasant distraction from the one man walk ahead.

He headed for the access ramp.

A lady waited not so patently with her two dogs  for her partner. 

He had paused at the top of the ramp to take an "Important " call from Spider.

An inquisitive Brown and White Spaniel wagged up to Beach Buoy as if to see it was him who had "The" ball.

He hadn't.

He left the Village  behind as he headed South.

The tide was well out.

There was a fresh breeze off the sea.

Rainclouds hung in the sky to the west.

A Running Club's members came jogging form the south.

They passed in small groups, like short lines of brightly covered washing, hung out to dry.

The Brown and White Spaniel returned , proudly showing that he had indeed found "The" ball; panic over.

People were milling about near to Stubborn Dog Stack so Beach Buoy continued Southwards.

He carried on as far as Sand Martin Corner.

Skylarks sang.

He found some finds.

He headed back and stacked Stubborn Dog Stack.

People beach combed.

The Detectorist.

 

Beach Buoy had a coffee with a big Jam Doughnut and a bigger empty space beside him.

It would never ever be the same again, not ever.

BEACH BUOY.