Saturday morning, 5-49 a.m.
It was as bright as day.
To the West an almost full but faint moon hung in the sky.
At 5-54 the sun broke through the cloud.
It was now as bright as a summer's day.
The land rover border collie couple headed for the beach with their two dogs.
There was a problem.
They had changed vehicles.
From now on they will have to be known as the Jeepy Border Collie Couple.
Beach Buoy walked towards the sea and sun.
It was almost high tide.
This would be at 6-04 a.m.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed south.
Three dogs ran towards the sea.
It was the 7 a m. Club.
"Morning Paul ."
"Morning."
Industry did industrial stuff beyond the dunes.
The tide was about to turn.
It turned and beach water ran to the sea.
Beach Buoy saw a figure and dog heading towards them.
The beach was narrow due to the height of the tide.
Beach Buoy drifted towards the dune edge to let them claim the water's edge and have there walk in peace.
It was a man and a Spaniel.
" Morning."
"Morning."
Beach Buoy recognised the man .
They had chatted up at Stubborn Dog Stack months and months ago.
They shared open hearted stories of dog loss.
Grief.
Funny how one can share that with a stranger.
Today though, it was shared "Morning."s and half-hearted not so distant waves.
They both knew.
A gorgeous fresh breeze blew from across the dunes.
There was an unseen cough
Beach Buoy and Another Dog carried on south.
They passed a opening in the dunes.
Cough.
A lady was sat on a driftwood bench, reading a book.
Beach Buoy headed for Stubborn Dog Stack.
"Morning Mate."
Beach Buoy added some stones.
He patted
THE
stone.
He sat down on a large stack stone.
He watched the sea.
He watched the Sand Martins.
It will be a sad day when they go.
But for now he could enjoy their flight, their company.
The dry seed heads on the Marram Grass hinted that things were going the other way...
The faint moon began to fade even moreso.
"See you mate."
They headed back to the beach.
The tide had receded a fair amount.
The beach was wider, flatter making it easier to walk on. Plus the added benefit of more space too.
A Seal popped up, just offshore.
For once the creature hung around long enough for a few photographs.
Beach Buoy carried on.
At first he thought that the seal had returned.
It was the very very wet retriever.
He and his owner had caught Beach Buoy up as they all headed north.
"I thought that the seal had come back."
"I think he's part seal anyway." answered the dog's owner.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog dawdled along.
A man approached from the south with his dog.
It looked like he had just finished playing baseball, judging by his attire.
The men shared a not so distant half wave and a nod.
Similar souls.
Early beach, dog and a love of baseball.
Well, two out of three ain't bad.
As they headed off in opposite directions Beach Buoy wondered about that thought he had had a few weeks ago.
A beach, like that baseball field in that film,
Field of Dreams.
Maybe the man had just come to the beach of dreams in error
Was he looking for that field?
One more game with his father?
Or was it that Beach Buoy should have had another hour or two in bed?
The blonde lady with a Border Collie headed towards them.
"Morning."
"Morning."
They discussed the pros and cons of dogs on and off the lead.
"Enjoy your walk."
"You too."
A man with a dog called Stan appeared next on the water's edge conveyor belt.
"Morning."
"Morning."
Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed to the van.
Beach Buoy made a milky coffee
He sat, sipping his drink as Another Dog slept and the sea sparkled.
The air outside was full of distant
"Morning."s as more and more people and dogs arrived.
Cyclists, cycled the promenade.
"Have a nice day."
They stayed a while.
They headed back to base camp.
Another Dog was keen for Beach Buoy to join in the garden.
Later, a lovely long wheelbase VW T4 was parked nearby.
Its always SUNNY in Seaton Carew...
Well, you know.....
BEACH BUOY.
