Beach Buoy reached the car park at 6-04 a.m.
A Lone Promenade walker headed back to his car with a walk done and dusted smugness.
Another Lone Promenade walker rotated 180 degrees at the end of the Promenade, before returning North; walk half done.
Beach Buoy headed to the beach.
The tide was well out.
There was no breeze at all.
A Milky Sun shone up above.
It was both the calmest and mildest of mornings, wave-rolled into one.
The tide was slowly reclaiming the beach.
Old corrugated steelwork ran to the Sea.
Beach Buoy was about to head up to the dunes.
He spotted a lady walking her Border Collie up on the dune edge, near to the Stubborn Dog Stack.
Beach Buoy just waited and just looked out to Sea.
The lady moved, the sea moved.
Beach Buoy moved towards his missing mate.
Beach Buoy placed three beach-found stones onto the stack.
"Morning Mate."
as he patted
THE
stone.
He looked at the stack, recalled some Stubborn Dog times.
He headed a few feet away to rest on the dune edge as he drank Coffee and take some medication.
A two strong 7 a.m club were walking the strand line below.
Mari the big friendly Poodle came over to see her friend, Beach Buoy.
He would have normally stood as she approached, but the leg was still a little sore and not ready just yet for a rushed stand up.
He gave the Dog the warmest of welcomes.
He gave the Dog a neck scratch.
"She Loves You!"
called out her owner as they headed back.
It is such a lovely Dog.
The dog looked into Beach Buoy's soul, then she was off to play catch up.
By the time Beach Buoy had finished his coffee, the 7 a.m. club were at the northern end of the dunes.
Time to make a move.
"See you later mate."
Beach Buoy waved to the stack, it was visible from the dune edge.
Had his leg been a hundred percent he would have gone up to the stack, to say farewell.
The Sea Serpent enjoyed the calm sea and mild morning.
A ship headed out into the bay from the River Tees.
Bon Voyage.
The low tide allowed beach access to Sand Martin Corner and the World War Two Tank Traps that defended the edges of the dunes hat the Sand Martins call home, for a while at least.
He and others headed back as a sea fret claimed some of the headland.
The sound of the Little Terns playful flight signalled that he was almost back at the van.
He sat in the van as the rest of the day's characters arrived;
The Mobile Covid Test Van and its workers.
The Professional Dog Walker.
The Hungry Seagull Coffee Caravan.
Then finally,
The Lifeguards down on the beach.
They took their equipment down near the water's edge before jogging by the sea as one.
Beach Buoy stayed until 8-59 a.m.
----------------------------
Later he headed out on his bike, along the Promenade.
The beach was much busier by then.
