SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL 31JAN. 2022.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog reached the beach car park at 3-35 p.m.

Beach Buoy had been to work.

It was beach time now.

It was bright with a fresh breeze from the north west.

A rough sea had pushed the strand line up to the promenade.

The area where The Little Terns come to nest later in the year was flooded.

The sea went up to eight steps in places.

Rough angry steps.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog ambled south.

A man with a black dog and a black hat strode along the beach.

The beach was narrow thanks to the high tide.

A man approached from the south end of the dunes.

"Excuse me... Just to let you know there is a seal up there."

The man pointed south.

" Up near those grey rocks. About twice the size of your dog" as he pointed to Another Dog.

"Saw a dead one once." he continued...

"It was at South Gare."

He talked of the beaches around Hull, Spurn Head. 

How if you wanted to catch a bus to Bridlington. It would be a bus from Hartlepool to Middlesbrough.

Then Middlesbrough to Scarborough.

Then Scarborough to Bridlington.

"I wonder if you can get as far as Kings Lynn in a day by Bus?" he pondered.

He was a very pleasant chap.

"See you later "

"See you "

He was gone.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog cut through the dunes.

The sea had had the same idea.

They reached

Stubborn Dog Stack.

"Afternoon Mate."

Beach Buoy placed a couple of stones on the stack and patted

THE

stone.

Beach Buoy had made a coffee.

He sipped hot coffee from the thermal mug as the sea roared.

He stood with Another Dog watching the turbulent sea 

It rose and ran the length of North Gare Pier.

The waves crashed into the world war two tank traps and Sand Matin Corner beyond it.

" See you mate "

They headed back to the North.

 A waggy tailed Spaniel headed south.

Another Dog went into Stubborn Dog mode as a small pug walked by with its owners.

Sand Skier Ruby raised a laugh as they passed.

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS, AN AFTERNOON VISIT. 30, JAN 2022.

 Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed back to the beach at 1-45 p.m.

The tide was well in .

Waves broke six steps out.

The biggest of the waves were as big as a Beach Buoy.

 They headed up to 

Stubborn Dog Stack.

"Afternoon Mate."

Beach Buoy added some stones and patted

THE

stone.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog sat just in front of the stack.

They had a sit and think, with coffee, chocolate biscuits and yes dog treats too.

Another Dog dug a hole before sitting in it.

They sat for around half an hour.

Eventually...

"See you mate."

They headed back. The high tide meant a narrow beach.

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON CAREW AND NORTH GARE BEACH. 30 JAN, 2022.

Beach Buoy glanced to the left as he locked the front door.

He could see the Bay's Wind Turbines as they slowly turned.

It was around 7-15 a.m.

It was already light enough to see the dunes.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog set off. They passed the Golf Club. 

It's flag hung like a wet towel.

They reached beach Car Park at 7-21 a.m.

It was more three quarter light rather than half light.

They headed for the water's edge.

Beach Buoy had put one of the two thermal mugs of coffee that he had made into his beach bag.

They passed a Murder of Crows that were stood pecking on the strand line.

Fine feathery clouds spread out across the dunes.

The tide was well out.

There wasn't a soul in sight.

It was more of a steam than a low mist that hung to the south end of the beach.

The pre dawn glow deepened in colour.

The air was almost still but definitely cold.

A strange light appeared.

A vertical column of bright light.

Beach Buoy later found out it was called a Sun Pillar.

He had never seen one before.

Here is The Sun Pillar.

No filter.

They headed up to Stubborn Dog Stack..

Beach Buoy added some stones.

He patted

THE

stone.

"Morning Mate."

Beach Buoy had a sip of hot coffee as he waited for the sunrise to clear the low clouds.

It was 8-04 a.m. when the tip of the sun appeared.

It rose quickly like some giant gold coin, it was just as precious.

Beach Buoy said farewell to his old beach friend.

"See you mate."

Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed back to the beach.

They continued walking south, heading towards a whistling Oyster Catcher.

The light was glorious.

The wet sand mirrored the Bay's sky perfectly.

There was still hardly anyone else in sight. 

They headed off over the Pier to North Gare Beach.

A man worked the beach.

Another barrier had appeared on the Pier.

Bags of stones had turned up.

All part of  trying to strengthen the Pier.

The sea rolled into the River.

Defence.

They crossed back over the Pier and back to Seaton Sands.

They passed a dashing dog called Dash.

Dash was a big Dog off the lead but was wearing a muzzle.

 What a good idea.

The sea was choppy out in the bay.

Sunshine shadows were shorter today thanks to a higher sun.

They had a slow walk back.

See you again soon.

Beach Buoy placed the beach clean items in a promenade bin.

Three plastic bottles.

About a dozen taprogge balls; they arrive in numbers when the sea has been rough.

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL 29 JAN. 2022.

Friday night plans had dismantled brick by brick.

By 9pm the wall collapsed so Beach Buoy went to bed.

3-30 a.m. Beach Buoy was up.

A strong wind was increasing in strength as the night/ early morning went on.

Beach Buoy made a coffee and some toast.

He updated the blog, did a drawing as he listened to Radio Cornwall.

Beach Buoy said "Hi" to Cornwall.

Cornwall said "Hi" to Beach Buoy.

It was 7-34 a.m. when they reached the beach car park.

It was a windy morning.

Shifting sands made mesmerising patterns.

A man and dog walked the water's edge.

Beach Buoy scooped up Another Dog when the sands were shifting just a little too much.

The shifting sand had clung to some of the wet sand. Finding bits and bobs would be difficult today.

As the walk progressed the height of the dune edge increased.

It was this height that offered protection from the strong wind down on the beach.

Overhead, Gulls struggled to head west.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed up to Stubborn Dog Stack.

Beach Buoy arrived, beach stones in hand.

Another man and another Another Dog were stood there 

"Morning."

"Morning."

"Blowy isn't it? " said the man.

"It isn't half."

The man and his dog headed north.

Beach Buoy added the stones and patted THE

 stone.

It was 8 a.m.

It was too windy to pause to drink coffee.

It was a struggle to stand upright in the strong wind that blew on the exposed dunes.

A couple of minutes after sunrise the sky glowed.

"See you Mate."

Tomorrow the sunrise time would begin with a 7.

The bright sunrise lasted around ten minutes..

They headed south on the beach.

The sky was almost as dark as the sea coal they walked on as the walk progressed.

There was much more shelter down near the tank traps down at Sand Martin Corner.

A world war two tank trap made do as a modern day coffee table.

Beach Buoy had brought chocolate but had stupidly  forgot to bring a dog treat.

They watched a small Red Ship head for the river.

A couple to the north had picked the wrong say to try and beach comb.

Coffee drank, they headed back.

Rock pools are like fingerprints

They headed back.

A grey sea rippled, not roared.

A dotted line of tired seabirds stood at the water's edge as if waiting for a signature

They made it to the shelter of the van.

They both snoozed briefly.

BEACH BUOY.

 

SEATON SNOOKS TEA ROOM OUT AND ABOUT CARD

 The Bomb Crater in the Village Green.

BEACH BUOY.

27 JAN 2022 SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL.

It was Thursday.

Work was done and dusted.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed to the beach.

It was 4-26 pm when they arrived.

There was a fresh breeze from the north west.

The sky over the bay had a hint of pink.

They headed for the beach.

In the distance a man ran along the water's edge as if he has seen someone stealing his car.

He was just a jogger trying some speed for size. 

They headed south at a slower pace.

The Village Church Bells rang out for 4-30.

The sound of clanking metal tubes sounded out as the mobile covid testing unit was dismantled for the day.

The tide was slightly more out than it was in.

The beach was fairly quiet.

A dune watcher watched from the dunes as a family group walked to the south.

A flock of Gulls arrived at the water's edge from the west.

Out in the bay, low cloud acted a backdrop for the Wind Turbines.

The pink colouring became more intense.

A small ship that was almost a boat, left the River.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed up towards the dunes, to 

Stubborn Dog Stack.

"Afternoon Mate."

Beach Buoy added some stones.

He patted

THE

stone.

Beach Buoy drank coffee from a thermal mug as he watched the world.

To the North, back towards the village, it looked like the beach belonged to them.

To the west, the sun began to set behind an industrial scene.

"See you mate."

Light was on the wane.

They headed back to the beach.

It was always hard leaving his old beach buddy behind.

The headed back to the north.

Dune dwellers watched from the dune edge.

 The wet sand reflected the light from a fading Sun.

Beach Buoy must have been about five minutes away from the van when he realised that the "Inner Rush " had kicked in.

 He stopped.

Stop.

Stop rushing.

Stop dashing.

There is no rush.

It will be dark for hours and hours.

They stood until the darkness claimed them 

BEACH BUOY.