Beach Buoy woke at 3-50 a.m.
At 5-30 a.m. he and Another Dog were parked up at the beach.
It had rained overnight.
It was mild outside with a equally mild breeze.
It was very dark.
Beach Buoy put a pan of milk and a radio on.
He made and drank coffee as he scribbled notes and drew daft sketches for his blog.
Another Dog slept on the back of the van's rear seats.
That was Stubborn Dog's chosen spot too, back in the day.
"Thank goodness for the van."
thought Beach Buoy.
A mobile beach hut and now a mobile office / study, even though that did sound more than a little pretentious.
6 a.m. came; light didn't.
In summertime, he would be sat up at Stubborn Dog Stack by now, with a coffee in his hand and a sunrise tucked safely into his back pocket.
He hated waiting for the light to come.
He hated the light going early.
It was like some sort of curfew.
6-20 came; light didn't.
The council road sweeping truck did.
It came to clean the car park.
It went around and round the car park.
Beach Buoy thought that it may be the ideal job for the headphone man who walked the perimeter of the car park over and over again.
6-31 came; light didn't.
Beach Buoy drew more sketches for the blog.
6-45 came; light didn't.
Another pan of milk went on the van's hob.
Outside, the wind speed seemed to pick up, making it sound colder than it actually was.
He made some more scribbled notes in his scribbly beach note book.
6-48 came; light didn't, a cyclist did, heading south along the promenade with bright cycle lights flashing.
Beach Buoy looked to the north.
He could see twinkling car headlights heading along the illuminated sea front.
The pan of milk almost boiled over, it was caught just in time.
" Cook, cook. cook, cook-ability, that's the beauty of gas." went the TV advert.
The song played in Beach Buoy's head.
He made his second coffee of the morning.
Two dark figures headed south on the promenade.
A car pulled up nearby.
The distant wave lady stepped out, before heading for the beach with her large friendly dog.
By 7-08 am the first cracks of light appeared in the sky, giving a hint as to what the weather was doing.
Clouds became more defined.
A man in shorts and a lady who fell off her bicycle a few moths ago , walked south together.
Beach Buoy peeled Another Dog from the back seat of the van.
They headed for the beach.
Dotty Dog and her owner were just leaving.
Another Dog and Dotty Dog did the Dotty Dog dance.
The owners chatted briefly.
They went their separate ways, it was 7-27 a.m.
Beach Buoy walked towards the strand-line.
It looked as if someone had dragged something either to or from the water's edge?
The beach looked quiet.
It was quiet.
They headed south.
Beach Buoy found a stranded Crab, laid on its back, its claws praying for help.
The nearest rock pools would be at North Gare Pier.
On the way he picked up another seven religiously minded crabs.
He laid them along one arm and tried to walk south towards North Gare Pier.
Another Dog was on a short lead.
She was trying her very best to trip Beach Buoy up.
It was a difficult walk.
For a long time the Pier didn't seem to be getting any closer.
Finally the crabs were placed in rock pools.
Some looked more lively than others.
It may be too late for them?
At least they weren't on their backs, stranded.
They were in more natural surroundings.
They headed to the north.
They had had to pass
Stubborn Dog Stack.
The stack is on the Dune edge.
Just turn left, east at the tapered end of the grey rocks.
The wet sand was giving beautiful reflections.
"Morning Mate."
he patted
THE
stone.
He added more.
A ship left the river as they stood and watched.
Beach Buoy stroked
THE
stone.
"See you mate."
they headed back to the beach.
Beach Buoy collected three more crabs.
He headed for some exposed corrugated steel work.
There would be pools there.
There was.
He placed the three crabs into pools that had formed around the steelwork.
Crows watched.
They had been feasting on some not so lucky crabs, ones whose prayers were not answered.
The tide was well out.
In the distance, a lone timber from an unknown wreck made itself known.
They headed back to the van.
Beach Buoy placed Another Dog on the promenade wall for a short while.
The mild breeze blew.
At least she could see for a while.
BEACH BUOY.
