Beach Buoy and Another Dog reached the beach car park at 6-38 p.m.
They had passed the Golf Club, the Union Jack, hung at half mast.
It hung like a wet towel on a washing line.
Not a breath of wind or a whisper of a breeze.
It looked like it may rain.
A couple made the daily trek to the south end of the promenade on their mobility scooters.
A couple of body boarders turn up in their small car.
Their boards were strapped to the roof.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog walked the short distance to the water's edge.
The tide was well in.
As they headed south, the incoming tide claimed more and more of the beach.
Seven Pebbles with legs led the way, as they too walked south, searching the sands as they walked.
Every now and then, a rushing wave would send them running west to the dunes.
As the wave returned to the sea, the little birds ran back to the water's edge, like school children saying "Yeah, well we weren't scared anyway!"... until the next rush of sea.
Out in the bay, surrounded by a grey sea, wind turbines stood idle, all facing the direction of the last breeze to blow.
A ship slipped silently into Hartlepool Docks.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed up to see their mate at Stubborn Dog Stack.
"Evening Mate."
Beach Buoy added some more stones.
He patted
THE
stone.
It was 7-09 p.m.
He sat and watched the world go by.
A world of Gulls, clouds and ships on the sea.
The rain didn't come.
The breeze didn't blow.
The tide peaked, then began to fall.
"See you Mate."
They headed down a sandy slope to the beach.
They headed back to the north.
It was a slow walk.
It always is.
The setting sun brought a light to the beach.
A young couple headed south.
They had no dog, it was their hopes and dreams that ran playfully, just ahead of the them, tail wagging.
Twenty Pebbles with legs decided to escort Beach Buoy and Another Dog along the beach northwards.
The light began to fade.
The sky began to bruise.
The two body boarders were milking the day for every last drop of light.
Four people headed down onto the beach.
A light in the sky caught their eyes.
It was just an aeroplane heading for the local airport.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog walked up onto the beach.
Two lads sat texting on one of the
"Happy to chat." benches.
Perhaps time for a rebranding exercise?
Like moths, Beach Buoy and Another Dog were drawn to the light
The light down near the clock tower.
The clock was still telling the incorrect time.
It was still going anticlockwise.
It just happened to be near the point, when it would show the correct time at least twice a day.
BEACH BUOY.
