Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed to the promenade.
They had parked once more, in the car park at Seaton Park.
The lady who checks parking meters for returned coins was setting off on her route.
They reached beach at 8-11 a.m.
Brass Monkey Sea Swimmers were already heading to and from the sea.
Many more would be doing the same later for Boxing Day Dips.
The tide was well out out.
It was out beyond the Seaton Carew Wreck.
The shifted sands had exposed it once more.
The air was still and cold.
Two hoods were up.
Gloveless hands were stuffed into pockets of Beach Buoy's denim jeans.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog were down by the water's edge.
A Blabbermouth Man headed along the strand-line, shouting his dog to return.
A dog lead may have been more successful than a loud voice.
A young man readied himself to do a one man Boxing Day Dip.
His lady companion filmed as he ran into the sea.
He screamed upon arrival.
"It's really really cold!"
He ran back to his now laughing companion.
He was handed a towel.
They headed back to the car park to the sound of
"Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God."
Beach Buoy and Another Dog continued southwards.
The Sun rose as Team Mick Aston Jumper walked some gently sloping edges of the dunes.
Beach Buoy's and Another Dog's sunshine shadows were enormous in length.
A man in black and red marched by.
To the North Gare Pier then back.
Beach Buoy was being double dazzled by the Sun and it's reflection on the wet sand.
It gave light but no heat.
Beach Buoy gave a distant wave to Stubborn Dog Stack as the passed by on the beach below.
A Twitter mate and his two excellent dogs were down by the Tank Traps.
The owners had a good chat about this and that and that and this.
Another dog owner appeared.
Beach Buoy had talked to the chap on a number of occasions.
It was the man who once had a Beagle but it had to be put to sleep.
Back then he told Beach Buoy that he had a puppy.
That was a few months ago and today was it's first beach.
It chased and returned a thrown ball like a professional.
They all went their separate ways.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed to the stack.
"Morning Mate."
It was 9-34 a.m.
Beach Buoy added some stones.
He patted
THE
stone.
He sat on a wobbly driftwood plank, drinking wobbly driftwood coffee.
He watched the beach people and their dogs.
One couple marched northwards on the water's edge.
Their big dog sat down as he watched them walk into the distance.
It looked like the dog was trying to see just how far they would continue, without checking back then calling him.
They didn't.
The big dog ran and ran to catch them up.
All too soon it was time to get back.
"See you mate."
They returned to the beach, beginning a slow walk back.
A man with a Fedora (Flamboyant.)
and a Spaniel headed for the dunes.
10 a.m. Village Church Bells drifted across the beach.
A P.A. System kicked into action.
It informed anyone and everyone, that The Main Boxing Day Dip would start at 11-30.
Apparently over five hundred would be rushing into a sea with a temperature of 4 degrees.
BEACH BUOY.
