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Monday 30 January 2023

SEATON SANDS HARTLEPOOL. 30. JAN 2023.



Beach Buoy and Another Dog set off on foot at 3-37 p.m.
Destination; Beach.
There was a chill in the air but the sun was bright. 
It was a while until sunset but the January afternoon sun was already quite low in the sky. 
Long shadows crossed the cricket pitch like tall fielders.


It was 3-51 when they reached the beach.
There was a royal bue sea and a light blue sky.
Clouds were few and far between.
A breeze from the west blew across the beach. 


The tide was out beyond the Seaton Carew Wreck.
A couple and their small dog went over to investigate.


Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed south.
Down at the water's edge, a group of teenagers looked out to sea, hands in pockets. 
The sun had slipped behind one of the few clouds not long after they had arrived on the beach.
They headed up the Sandy Slope.


As they reached the top of the dunes, the sun shone once more.
They felt like stars of the show.


4-14 p.m.
"Afternoon Mate."
Beach Buoy added some stones

He patted
THE
stone.
He drank a coffee.

He looked inland.
Land-locked wind turbines waved at those out in the bay.
The bay turbines waved back.
A half moon looked down on scene below.
"See you mate."


 They began a slow walk back.
A friendly spaniel-type dog came over.
"Norman!"
The brown dog dropped a ball at Beach Buoy's feet. 
Beach Buoy stroked the brown dogs fur.
It owner came over.
"What a lovely fur."
It'll be full of sand, least l can get the ball now "

They said farewell and headed in opposite directions.

A cluster of clouds of clouds hade formed over the Headland.
They looked like a pod of dolphins.
Before they had left the beach, those clouds had thinned.
The dolphins became a face with bushy eyebrows and moustache.


BRACH BUOY. 

Sunday 29 January 2023

SEATON SANDS HARTLEPOOL.29, JAN 2023...


Beach Buoy, Borrowed Dog and Another Dog headed out for the beach at 2-30 p.m.
They walked.
It was their second visit of the day.
Dottie Dog, her sidekick and her mam were heading back from the beach, their second visit of the day.
They chatted briefly.
They agreed a low tide is best for a busy beach.
They went their separate ways.
Beach Buoy and the dogs reached the beach via the beach steps at 2-45.


There was a breeze from the south west. 
They wandered down to the Seaton Carew Wreck and the sea beyond it.


Recently, the wreck has been exposed by low tide.
 At times , the sand reclaims it as it's own.

A Dad and lad walked the water's edge.
The dad had a voice like a foghorn.
Everyone could hear his words of wisdom.
"There could be basking sharks."



Beach Buoy spotted a tiny piece of sea pottery. 
Couples with dogs and dogs with couples milled around. 

A man stood at the dune edge trying to tempt his dog to run up the side of a dune as high as a house.
His partner stood on the beach, filming the attempts. 


Others chose to just be beside the sea. 

Beach Buoy and the dogs headed towards Stubborn Dog Stack.

It was 3-19.

Three hoods went up 

It was exposed up on the dunes.

Beach Buoy added some stones.

He patted 

THE

stone.

"Afternoon Mate."

He sat on a large stack stone.

He drank coffee as he watched the sea.

They  headed back to the beach.

"See you mate."



Back on the beach.
It was sheltered.
Three hoods came down.

A tug waited at the river mouth for a small green ship.

They began their slow walk back.

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS HARTLEPOOL, 29 JAN. 2023.


Sunday.
It was 7-01 a.m.
Beach Buoy was making coffee and toast.
He could see the the sky over the bay as he sipped the hot coffee.
Red streaks of light crossed from south to north. 
He had checked the time of today's sunrise.
8 a.m. exactly. 
Beach Buoy made a beach coffee.

Beach Buoy, Another Dog and Borrowed Dog all set off in the van for the nearby beach.
It was just a bit better than half light. 

Two cyclists chatted at the south end of the promenade.
They had travelled as far as the promenade would allow.
They set off side by side.
Their white flashing L.E.D. lights
led the way.
Beach Buoy and the dogs walked towards the sea.
There was an orange glow to the south.
There was a fresh breeze.
Finger ends turned cold in fingerless gloves.
Three hoods went up. 


The Village waited for more daylight.


They headed south.
Up ahead, two figures approached.
Lola the Pug came running up.
It was part of team Distant Wave.
"Morning."
"Morning."
No Hugo this morning.



Beach Buoy tried to skim a piece of sea pottery out to sea.
One.....
A flock of birds flew south, close to the sea's surface.
Showing how it should be done. 


Seaglass.
Lowcock's Lemonade
or maybe 
L
for 
Lola, the Friendly Pug?


A flock of birds bathed in gold at the water's edge.
Beach Buoy went up towards the dune edge so as to not disturb them.


They walked the edge until they reached Stubborn Dog Stack.


It was a quiet beach today.. so far.
The Beachcombing Border Collie Couple came and went.


Two identical-looking ships left the river, following the same course.


"Morning Mate."
Beach Buoy added some stones.
He patted
THE
 stone.
It was 8 a.m. 
Sunrise at the stack.
As the sun came up, hoods came down.
Beach Buoy drank beach coffee.

"See you mate.'
They returned to the beach.


It was glorious.


They headed back.
It was that time of the morning at that time of year.
When gold reflected on sea front windows, yet cars still passed with headlights on.

The sunlight began to turn a grey sea blue.


A breaking wave broke beyond repair.


 A slow walk back.
About an hour until high tide.

BEACH BUOY.

Saturday 28 January 2023

SEATON SNOOKS TEA ROOM OUT AND ABOUT CARD.

 



Higher Education.

BEACH BUOY. 

SEATON SANDS HARTLEPOOL, 28 JAN 2023


Beach Buoy and Another Dog approached the beach car park at 7-22 a.m.
They waited at the junction for an illuminated bus to pass them.
Destination; Not in Service.

Beach Buoy parked up.
They set off in the half light.

"Another Hoodie might have been a good idea." thought Beach Buoy.
Two hoods went up.
The air was cold but quite still. 



 A fair number of silhouettes walked the water's edge.
  A Dog silhouette ran in time with a breaking wave. 
The tide was more in than it was out. 
Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed south, midway between the water's edge and the strand-line. 

Everyone seemed to head south as one.

The light in the bay was dull and overcast.
Bay illuminations seemed reluctant to dim.
The Headland Lighthouse, The Wind Turbines and even The Sea Serpent all flashed as if to say
"Over here!"

 A grey sea, under a grey sky slapped down on a sandy coloured sand. 

Beach Buoy had checked the time of the sunrise.
It would be at 8-02.
Soon be in the sevens!

Couples and their dogs began to turn back to the north as they reached the grey rocks.



Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed to Stubborn Dog Stack.
Beach Buoy added some stones.
He patted
THE
stone.
"Morning Mate."
They stayed a while before returning to the beach.
"See you mate."


They went to watch the sea.


They wandered back.
Hugo appeared.
Others were walking him today.
Beach Buoy chatted to them.
"They recalled the last  time that their paths had crossed.
Back then Another Dog was so small that she fitted in Beach Buoy's beach bag.


A beach brick.


A photograph of the beach steps.
Maybe for a drawing later?


Not Beach Buoy.


 Beach Buoy...

BEACH BUOY.

Thursday 26 January 2023

THURS. 26, JAN 2023. SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL.


Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed for the beach.
Their long sunshine shadows reached the promenade wall well before they did.

They reached sand at 4-01 p.m.
Two hoods went up.
It was as breezy as it was bright.
Blowing from the north west, it had a chill.


The bright afternoon light illuminated the sea front houses perfectly.


With the strong breeze behind them, they set sail for Stubborn Dog Stack.
Out in the bay, waves broke up to five steps out.
Gulls hung effortlessly above them, like perfectly controlled kites.


A figure walked the dune edge.
Destination Sunset.

A grey sea fist-bumped the grey rocks.
There would be no beach access to North Gare Pier for a while.

More and more Gulls drifted over the beach from the dunes.


"Afternoon Mate."
It was 4-29.
Beach Buoy added beach stones.
He patted
THE
stone.
Beach Buoy drank a very welcome coffee.


A Small Ship that was almost a Large Boat headed into the river.
The sun had gone.
Grey clouds were stacked above the Village like unopened post.

"See you mate."
They returned to the beach. 


The sea was reclaiming the beach with a sea foam edge.
Once ashore the foam would be caught by the breeze.
Casper-like ghosts ran south.
Another Dog gave chase, as far as her extendable lead would allow.

A couple and their dog headed south.
They all had dark coats.

Just like clockwork, the Village Church Bells rang out for 5p.m. as they began to climb the beach access/ egress ramp.
Beach Buoy did the work / life balance on the sloping wall.


 5-08 p.m.
Still light in the sky beyond the Cricket Club.

BEACH BUOY.

Wednesday 25 January 2023

WED. 25,JAN 2023. SEATON SANDS HARTLEPOOL.

It was a new beach book day.

Beach Buoy had bought more than half a dozen identical books.

Panic had began to set in.

It was the last one....


Beach Buoy, Borrowed Dog and Another Dog reached the beach at 4-08 p.m.

It was mild for January.

A Bright Sun shone under bruised clouds.

The whiteness of the Gulls and the whiteness of the Wind Turbines reflected in the unexpected summer-like brightness.

A family stared out to sea. 

Generations at the water's edge.

Beach Buoy and the dogs headed south.

A family were up ahead.

They had a sausage dog and a babe in arms.

Beach Buoy and the dogs headed for a calm and calming sea.

It was splendid.



A breeze picked up, following the length of the beach with them.

Someone had stuck a driftwood stick into the sand.

 Two men walked to the north.
One in blue.
One in light tan .
Sea and sand out for a walk.


A Lone Pebble with Legs took flight nearby.
It flew low, right beside them, giving Beach Buoy a bird's eye view of the lovely little beach inhabitant.


They headed to Stubborn Dog Stack.
"Afternoon Mate."
It was 4-38.
Beach Buoy patted
THE
stone.
He added some more stones. 
Beach Buoy watched a ship working its way out to sea.
A sea that was busy working its way back in.
"See you mate."
They started to return to the beach.
Beach Buoy looked back at the stack.
He returned.
He forced three fingers deep into the sand alongside the stack.
Closer.
"Miss you mate "

They returned to the beach.



 They began a slow walk back 
It was still light but a slice of Moon hung over the dunes like a wry smile.

BEACH BUOY.