SEATON SANDS, FRIDAY, 08 NOV. 2019.

It was a day off.
The weather was not pleasant.
Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog arrived in an almost deserted and very windy Car Park.
The wind was strong enough to blow away the cobwebs, the Spider and the gate and fence post that the cobweb had spanned.
It was 7-15 am.
Beach Buoy parked the van backside first into its parking bay, to give them shelter from the strong wind whilst the side door was open.
A lady walked her Horse from their Horse box and headed for the promenade.
Beach Buoy recognised her as the same lady who had thanked him for letting them down the access ramp without the hindrance of Stubborn Dog to cause the concern.

The Sea was wild; the Sand was wilder.
It was raining.
The strong wind was sending Sand towards  and over the Promenade wall.
A beach walk was out of the question as far as Stubborn Dog was concerned; the sand was blowing at Stubborn Dog height.
Beach Buoy was going to make do with a Promenade walk but the sand was blowing over the Promenade wall, becoming Beach Buoy height.
No sensible option but to turn back.
They turned back.

Beach Buoy was glad he had parked the van backside first, the engine bay may have been likely to get sand into it?.
The van looked a little like it had just taken part in the Paris /Dakar Rally.
He headed back to base camp and hosed down the van... in the rain; he really did.

1-18pm and it was back to the Beach.
The wind wasn't as strong as it had been on the morning.
The sky was brighter to the North.
They headed down to the water's edge walking nearby to  twenty or so Oyster Catchers that were stood possibly resting after a tiring few hours 

To the South, someone was becoming wet.

The strand line was covered in thousands of dead Krill or Shrimp?

They headed South with the help of a tail wind.

The whole Bay was a mass of breaking waves.
Tumbling driftwood branches appeared from the surf from time to time looking like arms of long lost sailors waving for help in the angry sea.

Sea foam.
Some of the foam flew like a  mini blizzard to the dunes, the remainder trembled like a frightened dog .

They headed to the dunes with two stones for the stack.
A rainbow appeared over the Headland.
They headed for North Gare Beach aka The Blue Lagoon.

As they reached the River edge, the rain came.
The Blue lagoon was more grey than blue today.

Looking over to South Gare, across the River Tees.

The rough sea gave the impression of a wall from Gare to Gare.

One of two large tangles of ghost fishing ropes down by the river that were too heavy and too far away to beach clean.

They headed back.
One last look at the River showed the rainstorm that had soaked them was heading off to the South.

Hartlepool Bay was a magnificent sight.
It was perfect drying day here now .
The strong wind would have their waterproofs dry in no time at all.

The Headland rainbow glowed in the gloom off in the horizon, in contrast, a white cloud above, reflected some sunlight onto the sea's surface.

Yet more ghost fishing rope!
The one was closer to the Promenade and not as cumbersome as the others seen today.
It was beach cleaned.
The Headland Rainbow was the signal for more rain; a second soaking.

A quickened pace had them back at the sanctuary of the van in no time.

A new matching throw for the van.

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS 06 NOV 2019,

3-40 pm.
The Car Park played host to a line of Refuse Trucks aka Bin Wagons.
They gather somedays and go back to the depot in convoy.
The Church Bells rang for 3-45
Gentlemen start your engines.. and they were gone.

A couple of couples milled about on the beach.

The tide seemed to be more out than it was in.
The sea was rough, with waves breaking well out in the bay.

They went up into the dunes.

Resting Place.

After a while they headed back.
The beach was theirs.
It was a calm night; not a breath of wind.
Beach Buoy glanced at the wind turbines to see if the blades were turning. 
He couldn't see the blades in the gloom, just the narrow towers were visible with red lights glowing at their tops; like giant matchsticks.

It was a quiet walked back.
The only things to pass them, were the seagulls on the way out to the East, looking for a bed for the night.

As the walk ended the darkness took hold.
4-45pm and almost dark.
It began to rain.
It was November.

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON PROMENADE AND SEATON CAREW NORTH BEACH. 05 NOV. 2019

The Usual Beach and its Car Park were out of bounds for the local firework display.
Beach Buoy  parked down near the Village Green and went for a promenade walk with Stubborn Dog.

The North Beach called and Beach Buoy went.

It was a long lead today.... still not long enough for Stubborn Dog.

It was beachcleaned.
Beach Buoy must have looked like he was off to put a damper on the firework display  as he headed back along the  Promenade with it?

The bad weather truck pulled up; the rain was driving.

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS, 04 NOV 2019.

Beach Buoy as a boy back in the day at Seaton Carew Sand Dunes.

Fast Forward a large number of decades....
It was a Monday afternoon.
3-45 pm
The tide was 50/50 in and out.
There was  fresh breeze off the sea.
One Man and a Dog headed South.
They were followed by One Man and a Stubborn Dog.
They in turn were followed by yet another Man and a Dog.
It was like a conveyor belt.

If it was The Generation Game Conveyor Belt it would most probably be the easiest one to remember?

One Man and a Dog (Man wearing a Car Coat.)
One Man and a Dog ( Man carrying a Portable TV.)
One Man and a Dog (Dog carrying Cuddly Toy.)

A Lady with three Dogs headed North.
A Faint mist hung over the beach.
The Sea was Rough.
Over on The Headland, waves were hitting The Breakwater and Rocketing into the Sky.

The sea roared as they continued up to the dunes with  couple of rocks for the pile.

Then back to the beach.
They headed north.
As the walk ended it seemed as though the whole village had donned a big flamboyant hat.

BEACH BOUY.

SEATON SANDS, SEATON CAREW, HARTLEPOOL. 03 NOV. 2019.

Beach Buoy woke with a start, which is unusual for him.
It was 5am.
It was dark.
Beach Buoy thought for few seconds, trying to figure out exactly what day it was.
Work or off ?
............
Off.
It was the sudden wake up that confused him.
He knew there was no way that he would find more sleep.
He headed down stairs and made coffee.
He faffed about, as he sometimes does.

Eventually it was 6-38 am as Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog pulled into the Car Park.
There was only one car in the whole of the car park; it was parked in Beach Buoy's favourite spot.
Typical.
A 300 to 1 shot.
It is odd how often it happens though.
Beach Buoy went along the line, leaving around thirty spaces between the van and the interloper.

It had been raining heavily overnight and more was forecast for the afternoon.
Beach Buoy decided to wear his new waterproof trousers and also to put Stubborn Dog's waterproof on his little beach mate.
The Dog wasn't too keen.

They reached the water's edge at 6-53am.
A Couple with a Border Collie had pulled into the car park.
They headed northwards on the beach.

Beach Buoy went south.
The tide was well in.
The sea was wild.

Stubborn Dog was taking Stubborn to new levels, he doesn't like his new coat.

Today's sunrise was taking place behind closed doors.
There was some light to the south whereas the northern scene was one that was sponsored by grey.

Beach Buoy watched as the Town and the Headland were claimed by the darkening greyness, so much so that they disappeared  completely.
Beach Buoy headed up to the Dunes and placed two stones up there.
They went down to the water's edge at the Grey Rocks and watched the sea.
Beach Buoy turned just in time to see that Mari the Large Poodle was heading for him like a heat seeking missile or maybe a scratch seeking missile?
They did what they do and then she was off.

They said goodbye to the south.
It was still showing the signs of light.

They headed North as the wind increased in speed, the temperature dropped and.........

A faint rainbow appeared.
Rainbow = Rain.
Beach Buoy upped the pace, as much as Stubborn Dog would allow!

The rain did come.
They became a little damp, but not too bad really.

They made it back to the sanctuary of the van as the rain began to bounce.

Kettle on.
Waterproofs off.
Fluffy Towels out.

He made a coffee and sat smug with a mug.
Others came and headed out into the rain.
Good luck.

BEACH BUOY.

ROKER. 02 NOV. 2019.

They arrived at 1pm
£3 to park all day.
There was a breeze from the South.
It was a little fresh but the Sun was out.

Roker Harbour Beach.

After Lunch they headed in the direction of Seaburn, to the North.

It was a lovely bright day.

They walked the short distance to Parson's Rocks

Then it was top to the Promenade to photograph the light.

Its a shame it had to be moved but it is smashing that it was saved.
A slow walk back to the South where the van was parked.
The van then became a mobile beach hut.
A mobile beach hut with a great view.
A mobile beach hut with a kettle.......
BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL, 02 NOV. 2019.

5-15 am and Beach Buoy was in the wide awake club.
He listened.
The overnight rain had stopped.


Time to be up.
Pan of milk on for Coffee and a short wait for the first hint of light, then the beach it would be.

6-33am and Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog were in the car park.
Council vehicles trundled around with their flashing orange lights.
Two cars were parked, top and tailed so that the drivers could talk across the short distance between their opened windows.

Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog headed for the water's edge.
A figure with a dog were already making their way North.

The sky above Saltburn glowed.
Another dog walker went by; his White Dog was in world of its own. It was oblivious to Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog.

The day peeled a Blood Orange dawn, behind the cliffs at Saltburn and Staithes.
In time it put the red in Redcar.
It was a mild morning.
The sea rippled in the breeze.
The waves did break, but at the last minute and with a thud as the volume of water hit the sandy beach.

The driftwood surfer from days gone by did a dawn dance as the sea approached.

Beach Buoy picked up a couple of stones for the stack in the dunes.
He headed up to the Dunes.
Returning to the beach he unintentionally disturbed around a dozen Oyster Catchers that had been stood down by the  Grey Rocks.
The birds flew as one, in an anti-clockwise arc across the bay.
The landed to the north and continued their search for breakfast. 

A lone Cormorant flew over the Dunes in a laboured flight, seemly doing more flaps per foot than any other bird; so home in the sea; so cumbersome above it.

Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog had a stand and think at the Grey Rocks.
Beach Buoy picked up his little mate, the Dog enjoyed the better view as they both watched the Sea Serpent.
He also enjoyed the chance to wash his sea-salty  front paws, that were resting on Beach Buoy's left arm.

A Seal appeared, too distant and too elusive to photograph.
The Seal swam South towards the river.
It had opted for the now you see me, now you don't technique.
Beach Buoy didn't manage a good photograph of the Seal, but he now has many wave photographs!

It was 7-24am.
The 7 am club were on the way.

Mari the Big Friendly Poodle was back for neck scratching.
A White Scottie dog followed.... it didn't want a neck scratch, just somewhere or something to cock a leg and pee at.
It took aim at Beach Buoy's unsuspecting left leg.

The 7 am club had been and gone as Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog headed back.
Beach Buoy thought how good it was that you can get 360 different driftwood sculptures from just one piece.

The 8 am Church Bells rang as they neared the Promenade.
A Horse and Rider were just about to  walk down the beach ramp; Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog stood well back to give them right of way.
The lady rider thanked them and told the tale of a recent trip to Redcar Beach, where four loose dogs chased them like a pack of wolves and that the dog's owners were so rude.

No Comment.

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON CAREW BEACH 01 11 19

3-45pm.
The parking is free now until next year.
It was overcast.
Not a breath of wind.
Two Ponies went North; they were brown and white.
Two horses went south; they were brown and brown.

Horses on the beach, but now white horses out in the bay.
The sea was grey and undulating, with the waves breaking just before the shore.
It was very mild, flies flew; it is November. 

Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog headed up to the dunes and added to the stack of stones.
They headed back to the beach.
The smell of the riverside industry was drifting across at the Grey Rocks; the price you pay for no wind to carry it off to be someone else's problem.

They headed back as the light faded.
Over the dunes, the Seagulls were drifting back to the seaside for the night.
They cried out as they crossed the beach. 
Beach Buoy looked at the time; 4.47 pm.
He recalled a similar scenario a few months ago, but it was after 9 pm......

Beach Buoy.