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.
