Beach Buoy, Borrowed Dog and Another Dog parked up
It was 8-25 a.m.
They were using the Car Park in Seaton Park so as not have to pay Hartlepool Council's Sea Tax.
They headed for the beach.
There was a strange sky.
If someone had drawn or painted it, then it would have just looked wrong.
A distant line had been drawn as if by a rule.
It divided a cloudy sky and a cloudless one.
The tide was well in but going out.
It was neither mild or chilly, just a still December day.
Beach Buoy and the dogs walked to the water's edge.
Up ahead the black coffee/ white coffee ladies were in their preferred coffee coats.
Saying that, they had no coffees today.
Just wet footwear from shingle searching too close to the sea.
As Beach Buoy left the beach yesterday a man, two kids and a Spaniel were building the beginnings of a driftwood shelter.
Today a Crow sat on top, inspecting their handiwork.
Beach Buoy took another look at that strange sky.
It looked like a giant eyelid.
Mother Earth perhaps?
Checking on us.
A large dog approached, it's owner was way off in the distance.
It looked like a cartoon-drawn dog a sort of looneytuneadoodle.
It wagged around before dashing back to it's owner.
Beach Buoy and the dogs continued southwards.
Beach Buoy was "Fine" but it was a gloomy morning.
It felt like the day had skipped lunch and headed straight for late afternoon.
That time of year maybe?
Team Mick Aston Jumper were all heading back to the car park, in time to beat the 9 a.m. parking.
The parking charges are a disgrace.
The one place you shouldn't be watching the clock is in the beach.
THE SEA SHOULD BE FREE!
A place to let your body and mind wander unshackled.
Beach Buoy's mind wanders a little too far maybe?
Giving people and the dogs team names, making up stories about coffee preferences.
It's just the beach that does that.
It brings things to mind that a walk down the street wouldn't.
Beach Buoy placed some bits and bobs onto the beach.
Not many finds today.
He left them on the beach.
The beach narrowed to the south.
A man with a walking stick and a Brown Labrador headed North just below the heights of the dunes
"Morning "
"Morning."
Beach Buoy and the dogs headed over the grey rocks to Stubborn Dog Stack.
"Morning Mate."
It was 9-17 a.m.
Beach Buoy added some stones.
He also added painted stones.
One for Bob the splendid Black Labrador.
One for Jack, the dog who ashes are up at the stack apparently.
His painted stone had gone missing.
He patted
THE
stone.
Beach Buoy drank a wobbly driftwood coffee on a wobbly driftwood plank.
The Dogs watched.
Small birds chattered in the dunes behind.
For a moment it felt like spring once more.
A Parcel of Oyster Catchers whistled as they flew by The Sea Serpent Marker, as they headed towards Hartlepool.
Another Dog turned to act as lookout.
Borrowed Dog went up on his back legs, wanting an ear rub.
Beach Buoy stood.
He looked northwards along the beach below.
They returned to the beach.
It was the usual slow walk back.
A man and his Pug overtook at a quicker pace.
Beach Buoy found, recorded and returned the Sea Pottery shown above.
High on the dune edge, a lady walked with a Brown and White Spaniel.
She wore a long coat but carried another.
A two coat day turned out to be one.
Two men walked southwards along the water's edge.
A rust-coloured Spaniel trotted ahead of them.
"That'll be all that sea air." Beach Buoy assured himself when thinking about the dog's colouring.
At the driftwood shelter the same family and dog were back again.
The planning consent must have come through for an extension?
Beach Buoy and the dogs headed back to the van.
BEACH BUOY.
