Beach Buoy had been awake since 4-30 a.m.
In the summer months he would have been up and out.
Its autumn.
It was dark.
Around 5-30 a m. he headed over to Hartlepool Headland.
Just a drive to kill a bit of time.
He looped the loop, heading back for Seaton Carew.
He and Another Dog reached the beach car park at 6-05 a.m.
It was still dark.
Beach Buoy lit numerous coloured and white fairy lights that are dotted around the van.
Another Dog looked out into the darkness as Beach Buoy used the side door of the van.
There was the dimmest of glows out on the horizon.
Beach Buoy lit a pan of milk to make a "posh" coffee.
He was glad of the coffee and his new radio too.
They headed for the beach.
It was still around half an hour until sunrise.
There was chilly breeze from the west.
An early morning bad news siren travelled the sea front as it often seems to do.
It was by no means winter but Beach Buoy's hands were glad pockets had been invented.
He stuffed them deep inside.
Beach Buoy paused, as he often does.
It was 6-51 a.m.
He had been awake almost two and a half hours.
The sun was yet to rise.
A parcel of Oyster Catchers flew low across the bay, heading north; air mail.
The half light had fooled Beach Buoy slightly.
The sea was out a little more than he had thought, but that was a plus.
The beach was wider.
To the south, Beach Buoy could see that The Sea Serpent was up and about.
In the half light Beach Buoy could see a two strong 7 a.m. club.
Beach Buoy gave a distant wave.
It was returned x 2 with an additional
"Morning Paul!"
drifting across the beach.
Beach Buoy waved to The Sea Serpent, the whole bay waved back.
Beach Buoy headed up to the strand line.
Down at the water's edge the man with the Polar Bear White Retriever was heading back to the north.
Beach Buoy gave a distant wave. Once again it was returned with a "Morning Paul!" the odd thing is that Beach Buoy can't remember telling any of the beach folk his name.
Beach Buoy went on a bit of a zig zag, no rush wander.
After all he had forever didn't he?
He and Another Dog eventually made it to Stubborn Dog Stack.
He added some stones.
He patted
THE
stone.
"Morning Mate."
It was 7-15, it looked like the Sun had overslept?
"See you mate."
It was only when Beach Buoy reached the beach below that he realised that he hadn't took a stack photograph.
He took one from the beach.
A different view of the stack.
Down on the beach, the beach combing Border Collie Couple approached.
He hadn't recognised them initially, as the lady was wearing a bright orange coat.
The sun rose.
It was wearing a bright orange coat too.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog went to the water's edge.
A fish flapped around furiously.
You can see the splashes that it was making in the photograph.
It had been caught out by a wave, leaving it stranded by the out going tide. Beach Buoy scooped it up, returning it to the sea
Maybe not a beached whale rescue but a life is a life.
Their long sunrise shadows almost reached the dunes.
Another Dog jumped up onto her back legs in search of a treat, or maybe just wanting to have her shadow reach the dunes first?
You wait all day for swan and two come at once.
Gulls were spread along the water's edge, these four were the only ones making a noise trying their best to be the louder of the four.
It was a lazy walk back.
Beach Buoy wondered how the little fish was doing.
The light was gorgeous.
Back to the van.
BEACH BUOY.
