Beach Buoy scrapped ice from the vans windscreen.
He went to collect Borrowed Dog.
They drove to the sea front.
The beach tractor trundled along ahead of them.
It turned onto The Esplanade, down onto the beach below.
Beach Buoy, Borrowed Dog and Another Dog arrived at Seaton Park.
They headed to The Esplanade.
Beach Buoy stopped to talk Team One Black Ear.
They had left the beach and were heading home.
They still had a borrowed dog in the ranks.
Fittingly, the dog with one black ear is white too.
His owner is a Newcastle United fan.
He gave his account if the previous night's performance.
Arsenal 0
Newcastle 2
They went their separate ways.
It's a short walk to the beach.
It was 8-45 a.m.
Down on the beach, the tide was well in.
There was a slight but chilly breeze from the west.
For a while they followed the tractor's tracks in the sand.
Beach Buoy and the dogs wandered towards the water's edge.
He heard a whistle.
Then another.
He looked along the beach thinking that a dog was being called back.
Then a louder whistle, it came from behind.
Beach Buoy turned to see Mr.Gunn/Lunn, up on The Esplanade, waving.
Beach Buoy gave a distant and delayed wave back.
He and Excellent Dog Alfie were on the way back to their car.
Walk done.
They headed south, towards the bright sun.
The sea still looked to be quite angry.
A man and his Border Collie headed. north with the sea for company.
A piece of "That" driftwood had broken off.
It was laid on the strand-line, a good distance from the main piece.
Beach Buoy placed it in his beach bag.
He was keeping this one.
The dune edge looked as chilly as Beach Buoy's finger ends.
Two ladies walked the dune heights.
One wore a pointy hat.
A lady with two Small Black Spaniels turned at the grey rocks, heading back to the north.
Beach Buoy walked the frosty low level route to Stubborn Dog Stack.
"Morning Mate."
It was 9-28.
Beach Buoy added five stones.
He patted
THE
stone.
He watched the sea.
It's what Beach Buoys do best.
🐯
He hadn't checked the tide times but it looked like the tide was about to peak?
Not so distant waves.
Across the dunes, to the west.
A rusting oil rig.
"See you mate."
They dropped down onto the beach below.
For a while the beach fell silent except for the significant sound of the sea.
Beach Buoy savoured the peace.
Others arrived.
All headed southwards on the narrow beach.
Beach Buoy and the dogs walked northwards, close to the water's edge.
The Village Church Bells rang for
10 a.m. as they passed
The Bus Station Clock Tower.
BEACH BUOY.
