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Sunday 25 September 2022

SEATON SANDS HARTLEPOOL 25 SEPTEMBER 2022.


Beach Buoy had woke at daft o'clock.
By 5-45 a.m. he and Another Dog were sat in the van in a dark car park.
Beach Buoy lit some colourful lights, put on a pan of milk for coffee. He reached for his new radio. 
As the milk came to the boil 
George Harrison's Guitar was still gently weeping.

Beach Buoy sipped very hot, very strong Coffee. 
Annie Lennox came on the radio
" Here comes the rain again "
"It needn't bother itself." thought Beach Buoy.
It was 6-10.
The faintest cracks of daylight began to show on the horizon. 
Another Dog was alongside.
She decided to come at the last minute. 
Beach Buoy decided it was light enough to set off.
Problem.
No beach bag.
It's usually always in the van or on his back but they had walked to the beach yesterday.
He drove back to base camp then returned to the beach.

They headed for the sands.
The light was glorious.
A couple with border collies headed north.
The gentleman with the Polar Bear Retriever headed south.


There was a lovely glow in the bay.
A couple headed from the south.
They had a small dog and two coffees to go.



The tide was more in than it was out. 


The Polar Bear led the way south. 
A young lady overtook Beach Buoy and Another Dog.
She took photographs as she walked.
She paused.
She took off her coat.
She tied the garment around her waist.  
She continued heading south. 


Beach Buoy headed down to the sea. 
The Polar Bear joined him, choosing to sit in the sea neck deep rather than just look at it.


"Morning Mate."
Beach Buoy patted

THE
stone.
He added more.
No stack coffee today.
"See you mate."


Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed to North Gare Pier.
Two workers in hi Viz attire were checking the Pier.
Beach Buoy headed up to the dunes.
So did Hugo.
Beach Buoy made a fuss of the big friendly dog.
The distant wave lady and friend waved from the beach below.
Beach Buoy waved back.
Hugo went back to the beach.
The beach cleaning driver pulled up his tractor.
He wore Hi Viz too.


He marched in the direction of the Pier workers.
Beach Buoy feared it maybe a Hi Viz showdown. 
He half expected to hear,
"I'm the only hi Viz in the village "
The film High Noon came to mind.
It turned out the driver had gone to chat to the distant wave lady and her friend.


A man headed for the Pier with a camera, hoping catch photographs not fish.


Beach folk headed back north, on foot and on tractor.


Additional sea protection in the form of extra rocks means the The Blue Lagoon is longer, making it seem narrower. 


They cut back through the dunes, stumbled across some grey rocks and there they were, back on the sands.


To the North!
A distant, land-locked and lone Wind Turbine spun as it looked out across the bay.
It dreamt as being press-ganged.
To  join crew mates out in the sea. 



To the south, signs of journeys travelled. 



As if on auto pilot they followed the tracks back to the village as though it was their own private, plotted route.
Gulls and Oyster Catchers milled around at the water's edge.
They walked in completely different styles.
The Oyster Catchers seemed to strutting to some funky music through tiny earphones.
They continued north.
A man crossed the beach from sea to dune, singing to his dog as he did so.


 Beach Buoy drove to another car park.
He parked up behind 
The Almighty Cod.
He and Another Dog walked The Front, taking photographs for future "projects ."

Beach Buoy.