Beach Buoy, Borrowed Dog and Another Dog reached the beach at 8-58 a.m.
There was a breeze from the north west.
The tide looked to be as far out as it was in.
A lady played tug of war with her greyhound, down by the sea.
Two metal detectorists beeped their way around the beach and then the car park.
Beach Buoy and the dogs headed south, close to the sea.
The man with a Corgi matched southwards.
His Dog almost trotted to try and keep up.
Fifteen or so Oyster Catchers stood at the water's edge, all facing the breeze.
Beach Buoy gave them space so as not to disturb them.
The unsure birds did take a few steps, like synchronised clockwork toys.
Men and Dogs walked to the light like released souls.
To the north, behind them a bad news siren travelled the sea front.
Beach Buoy had two hoods for the entire walk.
Tiny spots of rain could be heard, hitting the hoods.
Apart from the sound, the precipitation was nearly noticeable.
It amounted to nothing.
They headed across grey rocks to Stubborn Dog Stack.
"Morning Mate."
It was 9-44 a.m.
Beach Buoy added some stones.
He patted
THE
stone.
He retrieved the wobbly driftwood plank.
The breeze had become a wind.
He faced the plank towards the mouth of the river, rather than straight out to sea.
It gave full shelter from the wind.
The repositioning gave the plank a previously unimaginable stability.
Beach Buoy drank a stable driftwood coffee on a stable driftwood plank.
Beach Buoy watched the waves hit North Gare Pier.
A lady appeared in the dunes with her Dog.
The had walked from the south.
She spoke confidently and professionally.
"Morning are you ok."
"Morning, yes thank you."
"Lovely view you have."
and she was gone.
Beach Buoy mulled over the conversation.
To Beach Buoy's ears she sounded like a Doctor or maybe a Teacher?
It didn't matter.
She was a lover of dogs and the sea.
Beach Buoy watched as two Gulls air surfed along the length of a breaking wave.
South to North.
Colourfully dressed ladies jogged on the beach below.
Beach Buoy and the dogs returned to the beach below.
It transpired that the colourfully dressed ladies were some sort of team or club.
They had stopped in a group.
Someone had marked out a large square in the sand with a dragged foot.
The Ladies stood at various locations around the square, doing exercises.
Beach Buoy, Borrowed Dog and Another Dog passed by.
They headed northwards back to Seaton Carew.
Beach Buoy and the dogs cut across to finish their walk to the van, on the promenade.
The strengthening wind was shifting dry sand.
Up ahead, a Dad and lad made what possibly would be the final sand castle of the year?
BEACH BUOY.
