25, AUG. 2025. SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL

 Bank Holiday Monday.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog arrived at 6-20 a.m,

Beach Buoy had been up since 1-30.

It already felt late.

He had managed to catch up with some of the missing blog words from early summer, a drawing too.

From The Esplanade, he could see Team One Black Ear making their way south by the water's edge.

To the north of the car park, a couple were looking puzzled as they studied the parking information board.

"Excuse me its free until nine!"

The lady gave a thumbs up.

Another Dog wouldn't budge.

The parking couple and their dogs headed down the access ramp.

"She's just very stubborn." Beach Buoy explained.

Still no movement.

Beach Buoy scooped her up and began, once more to carry her like a baby.

Off down the ramp they went.

The lady who once fell of her bike and her friend laughed from up on The Esplanade."

"I think they sold me a cat in a dog suit?"

said Beach Buoy.

Beach Buoy let the parking couple gain some space.

He sat on the first available driftwood seat.

An early sit and think.

A lady walked, south to north.

Shoes in hand. 

Feet in sea.

Beach Buoy collected five suitable stones as they headed to the sea.

A couple were sat on the sand watching the Sun climb.

The Parking Couple  and their dogs walked in front of them.

It was a glorious morning.

You would have loved it had you been there.

Another pause.

The Beachcombing Border Collie Couple were about to overtake.

A drop of rainbow paint smudged the sky.

Even sea pottery flowers fade and die.

The Beachcombing Border Collie couple walked in front of the sitting couple.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog went behind them so as not to spoil their peace and view.

Beach Buoy chatted to Team One Black Ear.

He donated another beach-found ball.

Yellow this time.

The lady who walks Rocko the Pug had two borrowed Doodle Dogs with her also.

They were heading south too.

Beach Buoy moved up to the low level route.

What with Team One Black Ear there too, the dogs could all get over excited?

6-58.

"Morning Mate."

A large piece of timber had turned up.

The wildlife water bowl had been made and was empty.

Beach Buoy added the five suitable stones.

He patted

THE

stone.

He replaced and topped up the wildlife water bowl.

He had the second sit and think of the day.

Its allowed on Bank Holiday Mondays they say,

In time...

"See you mate."

Beach Buoy and Another Dog returned to the beach below.

Hartlepool Headland, across the Bay.

Beach Buoy went into a type of auto-pilot as they headed back.

The tide had pulled back a little.

The beach was wider.

Team Muzzled Dog headed south.

"Morning."

The lady with a black dog headed south.

"Morning,"

The man with a black dog headed south.

"Morning."

Mr.Gunn/Lunn headed south with Excellent Dog Alfie.

They chatted.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed to the Esplanade.

Team One Black Ear had paused there.

They chatted once more as Rita the Meter Maid went from parking meter to parking meter as she checked for returned coins.

Beach Buoy made a coffee back in the van,

The inevitable happened.

He nodded off.

He had been up since 1-30 and 3-30 on two other mornings this week.

He was running on empty.

The van is so relaxing.

Maybe he should give up going to bed and just sleep on the drive in the van?

He would sleep more deeply and for longer.

It was a lovely morning.

Too nice not to have breakfast in the garden.

Already the clock is ticking for summer and for Beach Buoy.

One summer will be the last.

If lucky you wont know that to be the case.

God Bless Geoff.

BEACH BUOY

SEATON SNOOKS TEA ROOM OUT AND ABOUT CARD.

 

THE DISTANT DOLPHINS.

13, JUNE 2025.

SEATON SANDS 

HARTLEPOOL.

Words now added to blog for this date.

Beach Buoy.

24, AUG 2025. SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL.

 Sunday.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog arrived at 6-27 a.m.

There was a very light breeze from the south west.

It was overcast but mild.

The tide was further in than it was out.

A creature of habit, Beach Buoy collected five suitable stones.

Never on the clock at the beach but they were a little  later than the norm for this time of year.

The Beachcombing Border Collie Couple headed down the access ramp.

They were later too.

Beach Buoy hoped that they had a note.

Their usually quiet dog ran into the sea, barking.

Another Dog went on strike.

Not a paw would move until the beachcombers had passed.

Beach Buoy watched the sea while it waited.

There are worse things to pass the time.

Up ahead a beach fisherman checked his rod.

Finally they were on the move.

Team One Black Ear were heading back from the south.

They stopped to chat.

The lady with Rocko the Pug passed by, heading south.

She checked if the seabirds had been reported to DEFRA.

They had.

They all went their own ways.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog walked the low level route.

"Morning Mate."

It was 7-18.

Beach Buoy patted 

THE

stone.

He added five more.

He topped up the wildlife water bowl.

He had a sit and think.

The sea mirrored a grey sky.

It was peaceful.

Beach Buoy was lucky.

Team Muzzled Dog arrived at the stack.

A quick hello today.

They had a run to get to.

Beach Buoy headed down to the beach below.

"See you mate."

Up ahead the fisherman was packing up.

Team One Black Ear had said he wasn't that friendly.

Lets hope all that he caught was the tide.

A Driftwood Sea Serpent.

Some see a little creature on its nose.

The fisherman's tackle box had wheels.

It turned into a seat with a backrest too.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog continued north.

Up on the height of the dune edge, someone sat in what looked like a yoga position?

They headed towards the car park.

Mr.Gunn/Lunn had just arrived with excellent dog Alfie.

They chatted.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog went up the access ramp as a Border Collie owner came down.

"Morning."

"Morning."

BEACH BUOY.

23, AUG. 2025. SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL.

 

Saturday.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog arrived at 6-27 a.m.

A man who regularly comes to the beach car park was on The Esplanade.

He has a small brown dog.

They don't go on the beach.

The man has a ball launcher.

The little dog scampers along after each launched ball.

"Morning."

"Morning Bud."

Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed down the access ramp for the beach.

A Cyclist was leaning on the Esplanade wall, at the south end.

"Morning."

"Morning."

It was mild and slightly muggy.

It was a milky sky and sea.

What slight breeze there was came from the south west.

Beach Buoy stooped to collect five stones that were suitable for Stubborn Dog Stack.

A mist seemed to hang over the water's edge to the south.

The Beachcombing Border Collie Couple were heading back to the ramp.

Hopefully they had plenty of finds.

Their Border Collie seemed more than happy with its driftwood stick

In between power struggle stops, they headed south.

She just stops and stares.

Beach Buoy stayed clear of the strand line.

The number of dead sea birds was too distressing.

It was mid-power struggle when the man who once had four dogs passed by with three.

"Morning."

"Morning. It doesn't look like she wants to go much further?

Beach Buoy admired the light to the south, over Saltburn way as he stood waiting for Another Dog to move.

For the first time ever, Beach Buoy felt sad that she wouldn't walk with him.

She seemed to pick up on the feeling and began to trot alongside.

That was the last tug of war that day.

Team One Black Ear were up ahead.

MIlo, the Borrowed Dog came trotting over first.

Once more a purple and green Scooby-doo ball was dropped at Beach Buoy's feet.

The ball was thrown.

The others arrived.

They chatted.

News shared.

The 7 a.m. club not doing his usual walk.

Walking with a stick at the moment, possibly due to a sand related twist of the ankle?

Beach Buoy and Another Dog walked the low level route.

"Morning Mate."

It was 7-24.

He patted

THE

stone.

He added five more to the stack.

He had a sit and think.

Shoes in hand.

Ankle deep in water when the sea decides.

A man headed north.

He wore his baseball cap back to front, his little dog followed at a distance... Discuss...Possible 15 marks.

It was so calm.

The Sand Martins had gone,

The Skylarks had long fell silent.

Beach Buoy could live up here.

When at work, he would joke with his mate Geoff.

Beach Buoy would ask much it would cost to have a converted shipping container placed near the stack by helicopter?

"They won't let you.

They will make you move it." always came the reply.

On the beach below, Team Muzzled Dog walked and jogged.

The lady with Rocko the Pug and a cartoon toe gave a distant wave from the waters edge.

It was returned.

It turns out that Rocko is another borrowed dog.

Team Muzzled arrived at Stubborn Dog Stack from the beach below.

They had a lovely chat.

Beach Buoy stood.

"See you mate."

They returned to the sands.

The temperature felt perfect.

The lady with a white dog and a black dog headed south by the sea.

As the walk ended, the sky cracked.

Sunlight appeared.

To the north, the receding tide had delivered the wreck once more.

Back at the van, the sound of the 8-30 Village Church Bells rang.

Like a Fog horn, the bells are both comforting and reassuring.

BEACH BUOY.

22, AUG. 2025 SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL

 Friday Evening.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog arrived at 7-11 p.m.

It was bright enough, there was a breeze blowing in off the sea.

Beach Buoy collected five suitable stones for Stubborn Dog Stack.

They headed northwards.

The tide was more in than it was out,

Two Ladies sat on a driftwood bench, up near the dunes.

They were sat with their arms folded.

From a distance it looked that they were waiting for the show to start.

They were in fact, watching their two Spaniels run here, there and everywhere on the beach. 

Another Dog was being more stubborn than usual.

They has already had another baby carry situation.

She went on strike.

Just a power struggle, nothing more.

She was fine,

A couple with a black dog approached from the south.

Beach Buoy had never seen them before.

They noticed and commented 

on Ruby's stubbornness.

A lovely chat took place.

Eventually they went their own ways.

Up ahead, the fields up on the hills near to Saltburn, 

glowed in the late evening Sun, as it so often does.

They headed for the low level route.

 

7-06.

"Evening Mate."

Beach Buoy added the five stones that had been deemed suitable.

He patted

THE

stone.

Beach Buoy had a sit and think,

Ruby has a sit and stare.

There they were...

Two horse riders trotted by.

They went to the Pier.

Before too long they were heading back to the village.

"See you mate.

"Beach Buoy stood to go.

Back to the beach.

They walked back, using the horse tracks as a pathway.

Out in the Bay, a red ship and a blue ship traded places.

One choosing the river, the other sea.

Off into the distance.

We all know that feeling.

BEACH BUOY

22, ÀÚG. 2025. SEATON SANDS HARTLEPOOL.

 Friday morning.

Beach Buoy had woke around 5-18.

Then again, he hadn't gone to bed until after 1-30.

He and Another Dog reached the beach car park at 6-22 a,m,

The Beach combing Border Collie Couple were up ahead.

The beach tractor rattled as it collected beach stones.

It was overcast.

There was a fresh breeze from the east.

By the time that Beach Buoy had collected five suitable stones,

the Beachcombers were heading back,

A Seal was just about to go back into the sea.

They sometimes fall asleep on the high tide line.

When they wake the sea has gone.

It can be a long haul.

The Beachcombing Collie was sniffing the seal track as they passed back to the north.

A ship headed for the river.

Driftwood.

Twisted like a tortured soul,

Team One Black Ear came from the north.

They chatted.

As they did so, Rocko the Pug came along.

The lady wasn't jogging today.

She told the story of how she dropped something heavy on her foot and has 

"A cartoon toe."

They all went their own ways.

The lady with a red coat and a brown dog called Jasper passed by at a distance.

Fittingly distant waves were shared.

Sadly, Beach Buoy had counted fifteen dead Guillemots .

He would report the birds to DEFRA later that day.

The man who once had for dogs went by with three.

"Morning."

"Morning."

Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed for the low level route.

A Crow stood on nearby piece of driftwood as though waiting for a password.

Another Dog flashed her access all areas badge.

7-10.

"Morning Mate."

Beach Buoy patted

THE

stone.

He added the five suitable stones.

He had a sit and think as the Surf Rake Tractor delivered more stones that he been collected from the day tripper zone.

Three Cormorants flew northwards, close to the surface of the sea.

Rocko and the lady with the cartoon toe headed back to the north,

"See you mate."

Beach Buoy and Another Dog were going to continue southwards.

Team Muzzled Dog gave a distant wave which was returned.

Not all of the Tank Traps have been battered by seas.

Some hide up in the safety of the dunes.

Out on the end of North Gare Pier, a fisherman stands.

It looked like his gear was packed up?

Either just arrived or just about to head home?

Shortly afterwards, Beach Buoy watched him walk the length of the Pier.

Home it was.

Sand Martins!

Beach Buoy had thought that they had gone?

Perhaps these were from further north, working their way south?

There seemed to be around a dozen or so?

They began to return to the north.

The temperature seemed to drop a little, perhaps rain was on the way?

Up ahead, a man and dog played ball by the sea.

The tractor trundled back to the north, following its own tracks as if they were rails.

Beach Buoy thinks he knows why.

Out in the bay a Gull did a perfect air surf.

It travelled inside the curve of a wave.

It turned with the tilt of a wing at the very last second as the wave broke.

Beach Buoy and Another dog walked the tracks back to the Village,

He resisted the urge to make tractor noises as they went.

Up ahead, long clouds looked like folded bedding,