Beach Buoy had gone to bed after 1 a.m.
He woke at 3-33 a.m... that was it.
He fought pillows for a while but lost.
4-50 a.m. he was parked up in the beach car park, kettle on , ready to make and drink a hot coffee.
There was couple down by the promenade wall, coffee cups in hand.
Sunrise seekers?
Not today, the overcast sky would see to that.
Beach Buoy had opened up the tailgate, giving a better sea view as he drank his coffee.
He had parked up with the rear of the van facing the sea, so he rotated the passenger seat 180 degrees.
It was a mild morning with a wind blowing off the sea.
At 5-05 a.m. the couple returned, disappointedly to their car.
The sun did briefly show, slightly later.
There was a narrow gap in the cloud just above the horizon.
A narrow strip of blood orange glow appeared like a nosey neighbour peeking through some venetian blinds.
Feet hit sand at 5-15 a.m.
The north was quiet.
Beach Buoy headed south.
It was almost high tide.
The strand line was a work in progress.
Beach Buoy, a Crow and a Gull walked the water's edge.
It was an overcast but lovely morning.
Two Terns dropped in tandem into the sea.
Beach Buoy gathered some stones for Stubborn Dog Stack.
He went up the gentle sloped area to reach the stack.
Out of nowhere the distant lady's dog appeared in search of a neck scratch.
A neck scratch later he was gone.
The distant wave lady was off in the distance, already heading back.
"Morning Mate."
It was 5-50 a.m.
Beach Buoy placed the stones onto the stack.
He patted
THE
stone.
Beach Buoy watched as more Terns took turns to drop like stones into the sea.
Beach Buoy thought...
If Terns are diving for little fish, are big fish there, chasing the little fish and..... if so are the Dolphins chasing the bigger ones?
A camera-shy seal popped up, working its way south.
Maybe no Dolphins after all?
A request came through on social media from Australia, asking if Beach Buoy could place a stone on Stubborn Dog Stack for them.
Beach Buoy went back down to the beach.
He found a suitable stone and returned to the stack to place it in a suitable gap.
Beach Buoy looked north.
He was about to head back.........
but..........
....... Dolphin!
He stayed at the stack until the Dolphin activity had finished.
"See you later mate."
Beach Buoy waved to the stack as he left.
The receding tide left a wider strip to walk as he headed back to the van.
A three strong, 7 a.m. club approached.
Mari the Poodle came running over.
"Take her home with you." said one of the three.
"She'll have nowt to do with me." he added.
They went their separate ways.
He had found a few other bits and bobs including part of a vintage
OXO
mug.
It would have had
INSTIST ON
OXO
written on it.
He went back to the van, made a fresh coffee.
The other regular cast members turned up on cue.
They all remembered their lines.
BEACH BUOY.
