30, SEPT. 2023. SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL.

 

Beach Buoy and Another Dog left the house at Subaru o'clock;

5-55.

The arrived in the dark car park at exactly

 6 a.m.

The hands of the illuminated clock tower looked to be on tiptoes.

That's if hands can go on tiptoes at all?

Another Dog loves the beach.

She just hates preparing for the beach.

She was curled up tightly.

Beach Buoy faffed on putting on Another Dog's coat.

It was then that he realised that he had left the thermal mug of coffee on the kitchen worktop.

It was dark but mild.

A Large Moon looked tiny in the vast dark sky.

It was morning but felt like night. 

Beach Buoy rested on the Promenade wall, looking out sea.

An overnight H.G.V. driver started his engine.

Out on the water's edge, the unmistakable silouette of the 7a.m. club headed south.

Two illuminated dog collars flashed brightly alongside. 

Beach Buoy and Another Dog walked to the sea.

The tide was more in than it was out.

The 7 a m. Club returned North.

Their paths and footprints in the sand crossed.

Beach Buoy made a fuss of Mari, the big friendly poodle as they chatted.

Crows waited patiently nearby.

They follow the 7 a m. Club on the walk.

Cat treats are usually on offer. 

Driftwood.

The Moon was as bright as could be.

They continued southwards.

Beach Buoy realised that most probably that today's sunrise time would begin with a seven.

He googled to check.

"In Hartlepool today the sunrise 

at 7-05 a.m."

It was only 6-18.

Beach Buoy was wearing an Orange Hoodie underneath his Orange coat.

Both hoods were down. 

Daylight edged its way in slowly.

Beach Buoy could see that the sea was calm.

Sand became Seacoal.

Out in the Bay, high in the sky, a lone Star shone brightly.

Beach Buoy is no expert.

It may have been a planet?

Jupiter?

Or maybe it was Texas?

The Sea Serpent broke the surface, keen to see just what the bay and day had to offer.

6-48 a.m.

"Morning Mate."

Beach Buoy added some stones.

He patted 

THE

stone.

He was more annoyed at himself than maybe he should have been.

The coffee was still in the kitchen.

 It would have been lovely to sit the quarter of an hour until sunrise.

The wobbly driftwood plank went unwobbled this morning.

Beach Buoy stood looking over the pale-coloured bay.

A little earlier than he would have done it was time for 

"See you mate."

They returned to the beach.

Upon reaching the bottom of The Sandy Slope, they surprised an elderly gent.

"Oh. Just having my morning pee."

Beach Buoy and Another walked near the strand-line.

Sandy flames roar on a seacoal fire.

A large flock of Gulls flew towards the Sea Serpent Marker.

A Jogger ran alongside the sea, giving himself words of encouragement.

The sunrise went unseen.

"Sunrise."

Paddle boarders headed for the water.

Or maybe it was 

Ironing-by-the-sea?

As they approached the beach access ramp, it became busy..

Team Muzzled Dog waved as they headed south.

The Beachcombing Border Collie Couple chatted as they did the same.

The "Morning Pee." man returned north.

The Sun decided to show up as they headed to the van.

Beach Buoy made a milky coffee under a milky sky.

To the south of the car park, a man stole the dunes one bag at a time.

Another Dog nodded off.

Beach Buoy drank coffee... eventually.

BEACH BUOY.

29, SEPT, 2023. SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL

 

It was 6-15 p.m.

Beach Buoy didn't have a lot of time.

Beach a short beach visit is better than no beach visit at all.

There was a breeze from the West.

 The Sun was already quite low in the sky.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog walked to the sea.

It was a fairly short walk.

The tide was a fair way in.

They wouldn't have time to reach Stubborn Dog Stack this evening.

They walked by the sea for a short while, heading southwards.

They began to head back.

Ladies had a bonfire going on the dune edge.

It was the same location as the gong ladies last week?

More arrived.

It looked like they all may be having either a dusk swim or a picnic.

Maybe both?

Two metal detectorists searched for gold, when gold was watching all of the time.

BEACH BUOY.

Smart Cookies.

 

    A work in progress by Artist Liz O'Neill.

a.k.a. @SmartCookies_

She has done a few Paintings of Seaton Carew from blog/ twitter photographs 

She lives in the South East of England.

BEACH BUOY.

WED, 27, SEPT. 2023. SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL.

 

Beach Buoy and Another Dog arrived at the car park at 6 p.m.

Free parking starts at 6.

The sea was free, as it should always be.

Hartlepool Council, the sea isn't yours to tax!

A strong wind blew.

Storm Agnes was on her way, dressed in grey, with long a skirt and shawl swirling in the wind.

The clouds were looking dramatic at the north of the bay. 

They headed to the water's edge.

The curve of the tide offered shelter from the shifting sands.

A man leant against the Promenade wall, watching.

A heart cloud sped by in the strong wind.

Soon it was gone.

Soon it wasn't a heart at all.

The sea rippled to the left.

The sand snaked to the right.

It felt calmer down at the bottom of The Sandy Slope.

Up on the dunes at Stubborn Dog Stack could be a different story?

It wasn't as bad as Beach Buoy had expected.

"Evening Mate."

It was only 6-30 p.m.

He added some stones.

He patted

THE

stone.

He set up the wobbly driftwood plank at 90 degrees to its usual spot.

Riding side saddle meant his back was to the wind.

A Twitter mate turned up with his two excellent dogs.

They had a good chat.

They said farewell.

Beach Buoy sipped wobbly coffee after they had headed down to the beach.

Another Dog waited patiently.

The twitter mate and his dogs headed to North Gare Pier.

After more wobbly coffee, Beach Buoy made a move to go.

"See you mate."

They returned to the beach below.

The light was fading.

They crossed a motorway of shifting sand.

The dune edge was more settled.

They reached the van..

Beach Buoy sat in the front of the van.

He lit the colourful fairy lights that ran across the dashboard and those that ran through his head.

He pulled up a hood.

He could easily have just fallen asleep.

BEACH BUOY.

TUES. 26, SEPT.2023 SEATON SANDS HARTLEPOOL.

 

Beach Buoy paid to park!

He hates paying the council's tax on the sea.

The sea is not theirs to tax.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog arrived

 at 4-55 p.m.

A warm wind blew from the south west.

They began to head south.

The clouds were excellent.

The tide was more in than it was out.

It was heading out more.

A lady with four dogs left the beach for the car park.

S+D

Had been on the beach.

Or maybe it was just

 Stubborn

Dog?

Soft sand was blown out to sea. 

The driftwood Sea Serpent cast a strange shadow on to the beach.

Walking-by-the-sea, a young couple overtook a dawdling Beach Buoy and Another Dog.

To the North, a man stood alone in the sea.

He looked around as if to see anybody was watching.

He turned to the beach and the car park beyond.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog crossed a large patch of sea coal as they took aim at The Sandy Slope.

"Evening m."

Beach Buoy stopped, correcting himself.

"Afternoon Mate."

It was a while since they had paid an afternoon visit.

The Sun still had height above the Dunes.

Their sunshine shadows were more life-like.

No tall thin shadows of early morning or late evening.

Beach Buoy added some stones.

He patted 

THE

stone.

There no coffee this afternoon, wobbly or otherwise.

He would have a wobbly sit and think instead.

He and his dumpy sunshine shadow watched as two red ships traded places.

A Jogger jogged southwards.

A Jogger jogged southwards with a Border Collie.

A man with two Spaniels chose to head North at the water's edge.

Beach Buoy was relaxed.

So much so that he almost fell asleep with folded arms.

"See you mate."

They returned to the beach.

A slow walk back .

Others overtook them.

The Jogger.

The Jogger with a Border Collie.

The young Couple.

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS HARTLEPOOL. 25, SEPT. 2023.

 

Beach Buoy and Another Dog reached the beach at 5-58 p.m.

Free Parking started at 6.

Beach Buoy faffed on.

They descended the Beach Access Ramp.

A couple jogged together, southwards.

Their Border Collie led the way.

They all returned North.

A group of ladies sat around a camp fire at the northern end of the dunes.

It was bright and breezy.

It had been a windy day.

An old man with white hair sat, resting on the driftwood Sea Serpent.

He wore an Orange Coat.

A cream coloured dog sat beside him.

Beach Buoy did a double take.

It looked like his future self.

Maybe it was?

Beach Buoy and Another Dog continued south.

A lady with a large white dog squeaked a squeaky toy up on the dune edge.

Behind them a milky sun began to lower too soon.

A Greyhound in a red coat trotted along the water's edge.

It's owner followed on behind.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog climbed The Sandy Slope.

"Evening Mate."

It was 6-34.

Beach Buoy added some stones.

He patted

THE

stone.

There was no coffee this evening.

Apparently you have to switch the kettle on not just fill it with water.

Beach Buoy fetched the wobbly driftwood plank.

A wobbly driftwood sit and think would have to do.

Beach Buoy let his mind wander and wonder as Another Dog sat on guard.

The Sun across the dunes was splendid.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed back.

"See you mate."

They dropped down on to the vast beach.

The tide was way out.

So far out that it was almost missing in action.

The elderly man with an elderly greyhound headed south, talking on his mobile phone as he did so.

Beach Buoy photographed the driftwood sea serpent for a drawing later.

They headed for the car park.

At the bottom of the access ramp, a lady scanned the beach with a metal detector.

Two men leant on the Promenade wall.

The shouted questions across. She answered them politely.

BEACH BUOY .

SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL. 24, SEPT, 2023.

 

Beach Buoy hadn't felt great for much of the day.

He went to bed around 1p.m.

He woke at 5-30.

He still wasn't right.

Maybe he shouldn't have gone out for a second walk?

But then the thought had crossed his mind about the clocks going back soon.

G.M.T. starts as all hope ends..

So rough or not he decided to make the most of the dregs of summer's end  lightness.

He and Another Dog reached the access ramp at 6-16 p.m.

A man with an orange coat and two dogs came up the ramp as Beach Buoy and Another Dog went down to the beach.

It was an evening of pale milky colours.

A strong wind blew snaking sand in the direction of the Headland.

The tide was well out. Another Dog sniffed at a driftwood stick.

They headed south.

A man with a dog had came onto the beach just after they did.

He headed to the sea, the dunes, the south and north!

FREYAYE

had written her name in the sand

TWICE.

Presumably with a Beach-found stick.

Another Dog sniffed another driftwood stick.

Gulls paddled in sea water pools.

They headed to The Sandy Slope. 

6-45 p.m.

"Evening Mate."

He located the wobbly driftwood plank.

He drank a wobbly coffee, more wobbly than usual.

His hands had the shakes.

Seacoal strips lay on the beach, they started opposite Stubborn Dog Stack, running  South.

The driftwood plank was almost a chair this evening.

The strong wind acting as a back rest.

"See you mate."

If Beach Buoy ever returns as a Ghost then this will be where.

Light was already fading.

Seafront lights twinkled.

Familiar flashing light sequences came and went in the bay.

A slow walk back.

As they headed to the van, an empty drinks can rolled in the car park. It sounded like the worst marching band ever.

Footnote.

Beach Buoy is ok now.

BEACH BUOY.