Monday.
A day off.
The van was going in for an M.O.T. test and a service.
Beach first...
The van pulled up in the beach car park at 6-55 a.m.
Minutes later, Beach Buoy and Another Dog were on the beach.
Strong winds had stripped the beach of soft, non tidal sand.
The walk to the strand-line was like walking a cobbled street.
Three had looked like they were heading for a morning dip.
They had stopped short of the sea, choosing to sit on the low wall off the beach access ramp and look at their phones instead.
Team Distant Wave came down the access ramp.
There was a strong wind from the west.
The tide was well out.
Team Distant Wave led the way south.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog dawdled along.
In no time at all Team Distant Wave were fits in the distance.
Beach Buoy were walking a point midway between the strand-line and the sea.
Beach Buoy kept pausing.
Watch the sea.
Breathe the air.
It somehow smelt sweeter with it being a weekday off.
A combined 7 a.m. club and Team Distant Wave passed as they all returned north.
The dogs ran to meet Beach Buoy first.
Hugo!
Lola!
Mari!
Neck scratch and shoulder rubs applied, the dogs ran back to their group.
"Morning."
"Morning."
"Morning."
"Morning."
The group carried on, eventually pausing at the point that they go their own way.
Chatting-by-the-sea.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed to Stubborn Dog Stack.
It was 7-22 a.m.
Beach Buoy added some stones.
He patted
THE
stone.
"Morning Mate."
Three hoods came down.
Beach Buoy drank coffee with a breeze running through his hair.
The couple with a muzzled dog and a timid Collie passed, heading south on the beach below.
Another Dog sat watching the sea intently.
Beach Buoy wondered what the little dog was thinking?
Beach Buoy watched the sea too.
Then he asked himself why, for the first time did the horizon look to be part of a curve and not just a straight line?
Funny how you can look at something for years then suddenly see it a different way completely.
"See you mate."
They returned to the beach.
They began a slow walk back.
The breeze blew into their faces as they walked.
A Gull and The Sea Serpent Marker.
The beach was quiet apart from Gulls on the water's edge, arguing over something and nothing.
BEACH BUOY.
