It was after 1a.m. when Beach Buoy went to bed.
It was before 5 a.m. when he took he pre-tablet tablet.
It was before 6 a.m. when he was sat in the van, at the beach, drinking coffee, taking his tablets.
A young man walked up the access ramp with a large camera with counter-balance attached, before heading to a small car.
At 6-07 a.m. Beach Buoy locked up the van and headed to the sea and sand.
A couple with two Border Collies left the beach, near to the dunes and headed to their car.
It was mild enough for shorts to be worn, but there was a breeze running in off the sea.
It was a little overcast.
The tide was more in than it was out.
As he had headed down the beach to the ramp, Three Little Terns flew overhead.
It looked like Mam, Dad and Lad on a training flight.
Equal numbers of Gulls and Crows walked the strand line as Beach Buoy headed south.
He scanned the sea once more in search of Dolphins.
None were spotted today.
Beach Buoy walked along with his hands behind his back like an old man.
A man with two dogs overtook him as they walked the strand line.
One of the dogs, a Yorkshire Terrier would dig a hole at every opportunity.
Three Little Terns flew overhead once more, twisting and turning as they did so.
For some reason the sea seemed to smell of double sea this morning?
The man with the digging dog disappeared into the dunes.
It was 6-37 a.m.
Beach Buoy sipped water as he watched the rippled sea and a sky punctured by rays of light by a sun breaking through breaks in the cloud cover.
Beach Buoy rested on the MM driftwood bench.
A helpful tide had moved it along towards Stubborn Dog Stack.
Just 150 metres to go, then a drag up the dune edge and it would be in place!
He headed for Stubborn Dog Stack.
The most special place in the world,
for
Beach Buoy
at least.
He placed three stones on the stack before patting
THE
stone.
Beach Buoy had bit of an emotional break down.
Full blown grief.
It had been odd, being unwell.
Today he felt quite comfortable pain-wise, maybe the grief sensed it was ok to return today?
He let the loss wash over him like a sea.
It wasn't just the loss of his constant companion.
It was the loss of a future, an era ended, plans not to see the light of day.
as he headed off
He did do a
"Here Boy !" dog whistle as he reached the strand line,
just incase.
Enough sunlight had broken through to highlight the sea front houses.
Whereas to the south, the Cleveland Hills looked Slate Grey.
The man with the digging dog was heading form the north again!
He must had gone back via the sand dunes then plumped for the beach once more?
Someone had lost a paddle or maybe had a very very large tub of ice-cream?
Showing his age and mobility at the moment,
Beach Buoy thought
"That would make a good walking stick with a beach theme."
He had visions of cutting it to length, but upon further inspection he noticed that it was two piece item
He disconnected the two parts.
The paddle end was heading for the bin.
The other piece would go in the van for walking stack emergencies.
As it happened it was now the perfect height.
Beach Buoy headed to the van.
Some lads finished a car park football game.
They climbed into a white car and started to drive off.
The car braked suddenly and the windows all came down.
The occupants were all joining in with the song playing on the car's radio
SWEET CAROLINE.
One lad climbed out, opened the car's boot (Trunk)
and stepped inside.
Another lad shut the boot and they were off across the car park at full voice.
Beach Buoy made a fresh coffee and even managed to nod off for half an hour or so.
The Hungry Seagull and the Mobile Covid Test Centre were both setting up.
8-59 a.m.
Time to go.
He went back to base to collect his bile, before heading along the promenade to Middleton.
Middleton Pier.
and.........
Yes thats the bridge he went underneath, in on a boat with his Dad at the helm, many many, many years ago.
A day to remember a day to recall....
Here are some lines remembering a different fishing trip.
When they rowed out to sea.
A DAY TO RECALL,
THE DAY WE WENT FISHING,
AND WE HAD A BALL,
THE LAMPLIGHTER'S CREW LEFT NO SIGN ON THE DOOR,
WE'VE ALL GONE FISHING
AND HIS BROTHER TOO,
THE SEA WAS SO CALM,
AND THE SKY WAS SO BLUE,
WE ROWED OUT TO LONGSCAR,'BOUT HALF MILE FROM SHORE.
WE'VE ALL GONE FISHING.
A FACE FULL OF JOY,
A TIME THAT WILL STAY,
WITH A MAN FROM A BOY,
A STORY TO PASS FROM FATHER TO CHILD,
WE'VE ALL GONE FISHING.
HAVE BOTH GONE TO SEA,
ONE DAY I WILL JOIN THEM,
IF THEY'VE SPACE FOR ME,
THE CREW ALL TOGETHER AND WEATHER SO MILD,
SO WE'LL ALL GO FISHING.
BEACH BUOY.
