Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed out on foot and paw at 7 a.m.
The van's screen was frozen.
Beach Buoy decided to give the van the morning off.
Also his scrapping of the ice might have disturbed the neighbour's lazy weekend lie in?
The footpaths were frosty, the road was ice.
They turned the corner to head towards the beach.
They passed a frozen rectangular bus stop shelter that looked like an ice sculpture.
An urban artwork called
Final Destination.
A man sat in his work's van, the engine running to warm the van up.
Engine and driver on idle.
Beyond the Golf Course the sky was a pink horizon, highlighted as a point of interest.
They crossed the road.
The black tarmac sparkling with ice and frost, looking like a clear dark early sky.
The gave the car park a width berth.
It looked like a skating rink.
Instead, they headed north slightly, choosing to reach the beach via steps rather than the more southern ramp.
Silhouettes walked the water's edge as they often seem to do.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog walked the Little Tern Area.
The rough seas and winter tides had claimed the area on an earlier tide.
In the distance, orange tinted steam rose into the cold air from. A warmer but chilly North Sea.
More than a hundred Gulls cried at the water's edge.
Some took flight.
Most seemed happy to sit in the "warmer " sea?
Beach Buoy, Another Dog and two Crows walked a frosty strand-line.
Beach Buoy paused.
He took a sip of coffee from his thermal mug.
He watched the sea as it steamed like a sauna.
A couple passed also heading south, their Elderly Retriever dawdled behind.
The strand-line became a newly formed dune edge thanks to recent high and angry seas.
The sandy slope had collapsed slightly, the dune either side had suffered even more.
Collapsed dune edges a gateway to a damaged sandy slope.
A man with a Beagle approached the couple from the south
The owners and dogs greeted one another, then said their farewells.
The Beagle trotted over, the owner followed.
Beach Buoy greeted the friendly dog then chatted to the owner. They had chatted once or twice before.
The Beagle had a flashing red light attached to it's harness.
"That's bright " said Beach Buoy.
"It's off me bike.
The batteries don't last long with the cold."
They wished each other well, before heading in different directions.
Beach Buoy took down three hoods.
They continued south.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog climbed a less steep, more southerly slope.
The dunes seemed colder than the beach.
The three hoods went back up.
"Morning Mate."
Beach Buoy added some stones.
He went to pat
THE
stone, but the
one that covered it was frozen solid as was most of the stack.
He eventually freed some and was able to greet his mate as he wished.
Beach Buoy drank coffee.
He looked south over frosted Marram grass.
"See you mate."
They headed down to the beach once more.
..
The dune edge, looking south.
They searched the rocks and shingle in front of Stubborn Dog Stack.
It felt like a sea alley day but wasn't to be.
A large ship sailed beyond the steam.
A noisy but unseen Pilot boat headed out from the river to greet and guide it.
8-26 a.m.the sun began to make an appearance.
The Moon looked reluctant to leave as it hung brightly over the village.
The lowest of Suns cast the longest sunshine shadows of all.
The village beamed as if glad to be illuminated.
Others walked the frosty beach.
They headed back to the steps and the promenade beyond.
BEACH BUOY.
