Beach Buoy woke at 3-13.
He made toast and coffee.
The first Gull called at 4-45.
He made a couple of thermal mugs of coffee.
One for the van
One for Stubborn Dog Stack.
He drove into town.
He drove back to Seaton Carew.
At 5-55 he passed The Village Green.
The 7 a.m. club were just parking up.
Beach Buoy drove to the car park behind the Golf Club.
It was 5-57.
He had been avoiding it and it's 9 until 6, all year parking charges.
It was early, he would be gone by 9.
Beach Buoy moved into the back of the van.
He drank coffee.
He stepped out of the van.
He could see the silhouettes of the 7 a m. Club, heading south along the water's edge.
The lady who once fell off her bike, walked to the south end of the Esplanade.
At the end, she turned, returning north.
A man in shorts threw a ball along The Esplanade for his small dog to chase.
It was still only half-light.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed to the beach.
6-17.
They descended their preferred access ramp.
They had been up over three hours already.
Beach Buoy exhaled loudly as boots touched sand.
To Beach Buoy at least the "Lean on me." Beach Art looked more like a scarecrow from a different angle.
Apparently it didn't according to the Crow , perched on top of it...
To the north, it was street and car lights.
To the south, liquid light leaked into the bay.
Lighter than the sea it floated onto of the ever- changing surface.
The air was cold, still and damp.
The 7 a.m. club approached.
Their paths hadn't crossed for months.
Beach Buoy can come and go with the light.
The 7 a.m. club have a stricter time-table.
"Hello Paul."
"Hello Geoff."
Mari, the Big Friendly Poodle came bounding over.
She was as pleased to see Beach Buoy as he was her.
The dog enjoyed a good neck scratch as the two men chatted.
They talked of not seeing each other on the beach for a good while.
"Bloody dark mornings!"
The Big Friendly Poodle wedged her nose in between Beach Buoy's knees.
In total she came for three neck scratches.
Around thirty Crows stood nearby as though eves dropping.
Beach Buoy mentioned them as he pointed pointing.
"This is you this." laughing.
"Love it."
replied the 7 a.m. club.
"See you later."
They went their separate ways.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog went south.
Geoff, Mari, Wallace, his other dog and around thirty crows headed north.
Cat treats were randomly scattered, like decoy flares from a fighter jet as they progressed.
To be continued as are many others blog posts at the moment..
They will be done.
It was 6-50 when Beach Buoy and Another Dog reached the start of the "easy"route.
The sound of the first Skylark of the year greeted them.
It was some distance but it was there.
Beach Buoy gave another loud exhale.
Another box ticked on the list of better, longer days.
They set off for Stubborn Dog Stack.
"Morning Mate."
It was 6-55.
Beach Buoy added some stones.
He patted
THE
Stone.
Beach Buoy plonked himself on the wooden wedge over a metre long.
Beach Buoy watched the waves roll in and the world go by.
To the north.
"See you mate."
Beach Buoy had one last look at the stack.
The man with two dogs, one white with a black ear walked as far south as the tide would allow.
He returned northwards.
The stare at The Gares took one last look at Beach Buoy.
Nice clouds.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed back northwards via the "easy" route.
They met Mr.Gunn/Lunn.
They chatted.
Since Beach Buoy took on a teaching role the two men have even more in common.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog returned to the sands.
Team Muzzled Dog headed south.
"Morning."
"Morning."
"Morning."
"Morning."
Two ladies walked a German Shepherd.
The big dog squeaked a small squeaky toy.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog had a slow walk back.
Sand turned to shingle and seacoal.
Up on The Esplanade a puddle looked like a. Image in a Camera Obscura.
BEACH BUOY
