Beach Buoy had been awake a fair while.
It was one of those rare days where upon waking, Beach Buoy wasn't fully sure what day it was.
He replayed yesterday in his head.
It had been pie day at work.
As we all know pie day is Friday.
So... Jackpot!
It was Saturday.
With a day off Monday too.
He went downstairs at 5-40 a.m.
He made coffee.
He drank coffee as he drew.
He made a beach coffee in a thermal mug.
He glanced to the window at the side of the house. He could see the first hint of light begin to show in the bay.
The window didn't have a sea view by any stretch of the imagination, just a view of the sky above it.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog set off walking to the beach at 7-32 a.m.
It was dark and damp but not icy cold.
No gloves required...
As they headed down the road to the beach, Noisy Gulls cried overhead.
Their calls seemed to echo off one another.
Beach Buoy could hear more than he could see in the almost black sky.
An illuminated Bus went down Elizabeth Way towards the turning circle.
The No 1 for Middlesbrough.
A jogger on the opposite side of the road seemed to be dressed in as many different colours as possible.
The bus went by again, Middlesbrough-bound.
It turned right, heading down Tees Road into the headwind.
It was 7-57 as Beach Buoy turned off the Sea Front into the beach car park.
The sky above the car park was awash with Gulls.
Silent Gulls, not a sound came from them.
Not Beach Buoy approached from the north end of the Promenade.
"Morning."
said Beach Buoy as the two orange coats passed one another.
"How you doing, alright?"
"Champo."
"Better than the weather eh?"
There was a breeze from the south west.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog went down the access ramp.
They reached the water's edge at twenty-one minutes to sunrise.
It was light.
A grey overcast light.
They headed south.
A ship left the river with the Pilot boat alongside.
A Parcel of Oyster Catchers stood by the sea.
The Oyster Catchers headed North.
To the north the first of the others began to walk the beach.
It was 8-22 a.m.
Another Dog was on sniff mode.
Beach Buoy took the opportunity to sip hot coffee.
A ship headed into the River.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog climbed up to Stubborn Dog Stack.
8-31.
"Morning Mate."
Beach Buoy added three stones.
He patted
THE
stone.
He watched as a Gull air surfed just above a breaking wave.
Beach Buoy sat on a large stack stone.
A rest.
He drank some more hot coffee.
Spots of rain began to fall.
Beach Buoy pulled up three hoods.
The hoods became a tent, one offering shelter but with the door tied back to offer a view of the sea.
Up at Stubborn Dog Stack.
The view North overlooking the stack, possibly for a drawing later?
They returned to the beach.
"See you mate "
The spots of rain amounted to nothing to worry about.
The Dune edge did offer shelter from the wind.
Crossing the Bay from South to North.
They wandered back slowly and aimlessly in equal measures.
They climbed up the beach access ramp as the village church bells rang for 9-15 a.m.
BEACH BUOY.
