Beach Buoy and Another Dog left the house at 3-30 p.m. on foot.
After a week or so of frozen temperatures, today it was thirteen degrees.
Underfoot, leaves that had been frozen in time and location, tumbled towards the sea in the warm wind, like a young Beach Buoy.
Once at the beach, snakes of shifting sands headed into the bay.
To the north the dry, much lighter coloured sand crossed the darker tidal sands.
A dog-less man walked to the water's edge.
He stood watching the sea, as the wind claimed the tops of any breaking waves.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed south.
The tide seemed to slightly more in than it was out?
About halfway along the beach, thousands of open Mussel shells covered the beach.
A couple walked northward with a Large Husky dog, restrained by a long lead.
Beach Buoy was tempted to shout over,
"You should have been here yesterday!"
The dog would have looked and possibly felt at home on a frozen beach?
One of those tiny ships that is almost a boat, headed into the River.
The light had faded enough for the Sea Serpent marker's light to become clearly visible.
Feeling a little like radio's John Shuttleworth, going to check the level at the local reservoir, Beach Buoy checked the timing of the light's red flash.
FLASH
ONE APPLE AND
TWO APPLE AND
THREE APPLE AND
FLASH
The pattern repeated over and over again.
Witnessed or not.
Beach Buoy gathered up some beach stones as they headed for Stubborn Dog Stack via a steep sandy slope.
"Afternoon Mate."
Beach Buoy added the stones.
He patted
THE
stone.
It was 4-12 p.m.
Another Dog checked the dog treat situation.
All was good.
Beach Buoy stood, watching the world and clouds go by.
The clouds went out to sea, like a sliding roof.
"See you mate."
They began to head back.
The dog-less man was just a dot in the distance.
The first glint of torch light to the north signalled that others were starting walks of their own.
Beach Buoy illuminated his bright torch.
Out on the horizon ships were anchored in a choppy sea.
The crews living a rock and roll life still shaped by the rise and fall of the waves.
They headed to the Promenade.
A wind-blown bin rested against a promenade lamp.
They looked as if they were the very best of friends.
BEACH BUOY.
