Beach Buoy and Another Dog drove to North Gare Car Park.
It was just after 4-30 p.m.
It was mild.
There was a gentle breeze from the north west.
A couple sat on the bench that overlooked the rivermouth.
Pointing and chatting.
Chatting and pointing.
Maybe each recalling younger days when the last thing that they would do, was sit on a bench?
It was a lovely afternoon.
They set off along the track that led to the Pier.
Behind them a rusting oil rig waits for the scrap burner's lamp.
The beach south of the Pier is called North Gare Beach.
It is also known locally as the Blue Lagoon.
Possibly because of the sea water that becomes trapped behind the riverside rocks?
Beach Buoy has found that Hartlepool folk call it the Blue Lagoon, whereas folk from out of town tend to call it the Snooks.
Note.
Since blog post Beach Buoy has been reliably information it was called The Blue Lagoon thanks to the Zinc works and it's chemicals .
The pathway and The Blue Lagoon seemed sheltered.
As they approached the start of the actual Pier, Beach Buoy could hear the sea in the Bay to the north.
They worked their way to Seaton Sands, walking the fresher dune edge.
A beach fisherman fished, just beyond the grey rocks.
5-07.
"Afternoon Mate."
Beach Buoy was pleased to see that the orange buoy was still in position.
He added some stones.
He patted
THE
stone.
He sat on a well-worn plank with plenty of rust.
He sat.
He sighed.
He soaked up the moment.
"See you mate."
They headed back along the dune edge.
To the west, rays of sunlight shine down.
It looked like it could rain soon.
They headed back along the track.
A man was coming up the
"Remember this."
Slope.
He had a large piece of driftwood on each shoulder.
They reached the gate to the car park around the same time.
Beach Buoy held the gate open for the laden man.
"Thank you. Did you get any good photos?"
"It's just a phone camera."
The man had an accent as though he was from one of the local pit villages.
They chatted briefly about the twitchers that had gathered along the narrow North Gare Road.
"Been sightings of short-eared owls.
A big white barn owl too." said the man.
The man headed off to his estate car.
Beach Buoy headed to the van.
Pier Fact.
Later, Beach Buoy was driving along the seafront.
He had to stop.
The sight over The Gares was amazing.
The photographs do not do the sight any justice.
All the colours of the rainbow poured down like a waterfall from an odd shaped cloud.
Beach Buoy hadn't seen anything like it before.
Although poor, the photographs will act as a reminder to the actual sight over the sea.
Beach Buoy headed to the van.
BEACH BUOY.
