Saturday.
5-44 a.m.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog reached the beach car park.
It was overcast.
It was quiet.
Most of the Little Terns had set off southwards.
It was cloudy but mild.
The tide was way out.
Ahead of them a Ringed Plover scuttled along the south as they all headed south.
Only a few Little Terns remained.
One flew overhead as if saying farewell.
Around a dozen more twisted and turned nearby as they readied to take their southward journey.
Way out in the bay, large splashes hinted at Gannets.
The splashes were visible, the birds were not.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog were at the water's edge.
An early 7 a m. Club had passed by away to the strand-line also heading south.
A dad sat on a driftwood bench as a child ran around.
Their dog stood wagging its tail hoping that someone would throw something to chase sooner rather than later.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed continued south beside the sea.
Broad folds of seaweed lay just beyond the tide like neatly folded clothes, left behind by people choosing to live the Mermaid life.
Four people with a yapping dog were in the distance.
They too were heading south.
Big Round Oyster Catchers walked ahead of Beach Buoy and Another Dog.
6-31 a.m.
"Morning Mate."
Beach Buoy added some stones.
He patted
THE
stone.
He placed the hidden plank onto the stack, balancing himself upon it.
No coffee this morning.
😱
He watched as the yappy dog group headed to North Gare Pier, vaping as they walked.
The driftwood bench Dad and group walked south on the water's edge.
The child ran here and there.
The dog bounced up and down as it waited for a thrown frisbee to be released.
Wat to the north, the 7 a.m. club gave out a loud whistle.
It was to call Mari, the big friendly poodle.
She wanders off to do her own thing, sometimes running almost the full length of the beach to play catch up.
"See you mate."
They began a slow walk back.
The man who used to have four dogs, walked with three, near to the dunes.
Mari popped out from the dunes, surprising them all.
Once on the beach, she galloped north to a waiting 7 a.m. club.
The splashes in the Bay head moved closer the the beach.
It was indeed Gannets that were causing the large splashes as they hunted for breakfast.
At 7-07 the sun broke free of cloud.
Team Muzzled Dog walked down the beach access ramp.
Swimmers swam in the sea.
Beach Buoy boiled a pan of milk in the van as he readied to make a coffee.
Chocolate Pudding's mam passed just beyond the open van door.
Beach Buoy stepped out to chat.
Chocolate Pudding aka Rosebud had gone a few months earlier.
Today she walked a different dog.
It was Purdy, a young chocolate pudding coloured dog.
A family member's pup.
They had given her to Chocolate Pudding's mam as she could give it more attention.
Beach Buoy was so pleased.
Purdy and her new mam headed to the beach.
Beach Buoy made a milky coffee.
He sat in the front of the van, looking through binoculars at the diving Gannets.
The dog in the Mick Astin Jumper arrived.
He and his time team headed for the beach.
BEACH BUOY.
