SEATON SANDS HARTLEPOOL.10, DEC. 2023.

It had been another rubbish sleep.

Beach Buoy had been up an age.

He drove around.

Eventually he parked up at the beach car park.

It was 6-15 a.m.

Three weeks until sunrise 

That's how it felt.

One torch headed south then north along the dark dark promenade.

A van pulled up alongside.

A police van.

Three policemen with very bright torches headed north along the promenade.

Beach Buoy made and drank a milky coffee.

 A Coastguard truck drove along the promenade.

Something was amiss.

Beach Buoy won't go into details.

The lady who once fell off her bike and her companion headed south.

The tide sounded and eventually looked well out. 

Blue lights and sirens headed along the sea front.

Beach Buoy and Another set off.

It felt quite mild.

Team Muzzled Dog passed by.

They chatted briefly. 

The Police story was shared.

A Police Helicopter left the scene to the north.

The beach had a bad feel.

Beach Buoy thought about cutting the walk short but carried on.

He waved to Stubborn Dog Stack from the beach below.

He circled around close to the tank traps.

He found a very large, black dog collar.

It had a phone number on it's tag.

Beach Buoy messaged the number.

To cut a story as long as the collar short, the collar was collected the following day.

The couple lived in Middlesbrough.

They were heading to Seaton Carew anyway that day.

They were grateful as

 "The boys are big. It can be difficult to buy collars big enough for them.

Back on the dune edge to reach Stubborn Dog Stack.

"Morning Mate."

It was 8-25.

Beach Buoy added some stones.

He patted 

THE 

stone. 

He drank wobbly driftwood coffee.

An Alsatian appeared.

It's lady owner appeared.

Beach Buoy felt like he had to explain his situation.

He told her about Stubborn Dogs ashes being there.

That he comes to see him.

She surprised Beach Buoy by saying her dogs ashes were there too.

Jack.

She comes to see him usually on a Saturday.

She went onto say that a Stone dedicated to  Jack had gone missing.

She and her Alsatian headed south through the dunes.

Beach Buoy was surprised to find out that someone else had put their dogs ashes up at the stack.

*See you mate.

See you Jack."

He rety to the the beach.

A Twitter mate was on the beach with two dogs 

They chatted.

They went their separate ways.

Beach Buoy climbed the beach access ramp.

Once again, Team Mick Aston Jumper were just ahead

BEACH BUOY.