Beach Buoy was awake early, very early.
It was foggy and it was raining.
Beach Buoy waited and waited.
It didn't seem to be getting any lighter.
After a long wait they finally drove to the beach
car park at 8-08 a.m.
Beach Buoy looked at the weather.
Beach Buoy looked at the recently washed and blow-dried Dog.
One plus one equalled three.
"Nope, not this morning."
Beach Buoy started up the old van and headed off.
Beach Buoy checked the weather forecast.
There may be a window of opportunity later.
LATER.
The fog had thinned out a little.
The rain had stopped
The edges of the bay were still lost in grey.
The window of opportunity was now officially open.
Beach Buoy locked the van.
He and Another Dog headed for the access ramp.
Two Horses were coming up the ramp to leave the beach behind.
Beach Buoy picked up his little mate and stepped aside to let the riders know the route was theirs.
A family played just beyond the ramp as though it was a summers day.
A summer's day with winter coats.
Mother and daughter were busy making a line of sand castles.
Father and son were in the process of starting a football match.
Two sets of goalposts had been positioned.
Each goalpost was a perfectly formed sand castle.
Dad drew out the markings of the pitch with a dragged heel.
The game started with Dad doing the commentary for the match too.
"Dad on the attack now, he goes down the wing, he's fouled.
Free kick!
The ref shows a yellow card"
"It's not a yellow Dad.
Dad, it's not a yellow card.
But Dad it's not a yellow card."
To be honest Beach Buoy was so tempted to put a finger to his ear and join in saying.
VAR says
"No yellow Card, He got the ball first."
But these days you can't be too careful.
He just walked on.
There was shingle ahead.
A search ensued.
Beach Buoy looked back to the north.
A few people around, but still plenty of space for all.
A Dad and lad approached with a lovely, unusual Brown Border Collie on a lead.
It was clear that Another Dog and the Collie wanted to say
"Hi."
The Dad explained that his dog was so nervous.
That they came to the beach most days.
They talked about Dogs.
"See you, nice to chat."
"Yes, nice to meet you."
They headed off in different directions.
The past few days had been so dull and grey that even a slightly different shade with a gunmetal grey sea, almost looked colourful.
A large family group were heading back to the north.
They were strung out like a line of Police looking for a murder weapon.
A lady in red stood out of the way slightly behind the dune edge waiting for them to pass.
They passed.
The lady in red headed south.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed for
Stubborn Dog Stack.
"Afternoon Mate."
Beach Buoy placed some beach stones onto the stack.
He patted
THE
stone.
The lady in red was in the distance, heading for the Pier.
By the time they said
"See you mate."
The lady in red was heading back to the north.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog walked towards the Pier.
The light seemed to change.
For a few moments the gunmetal grey sea seemed to turn bottle green.
The Sea Serpent marker looked glorious in the strange but short-lived light.
The Gares and a Gull.
North Gare Pier is the nearest with South Gare in the distance.
Some say that South Gare is actually farther north than North Gare, due to its length ?
They had a mooch around the tank traps at North Gare Corner.
They headed back.
There was no rush.
A family walked the water's edge.
A young boy led the way.
He squeaked a squeaky dog toy as he did so.
Their dog was second in line, keen to grab the toy.
A man with two dogs was just ahead.
The dogs were both King Charles Spaniels.
King Charles the first looked happier than Larry the third with a Tennis Ball held tightly in his mouth.
King Charles the second wasn't as chuffed.
"He's lost his ball."
explained the owner.
"It'll wash up again." said Beach Buoy.
"Aye."
His highness came over as if to check if Beach Buoy or Another Dog had the ball in question.
They didn't.
A curtain of drizzle began to fall.
Time to climb back through that window of opportunity, back into the van.
Back to reality..... for now at least
😉
BEACH BUOY.
