SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL 12 DEC 2020.

It was 8-20 am by the time Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog turned up.

Spots of rain fell in the damp grey car park.

They headed for the beach.

The visibility was poor.

The tide had not long turned from low.

To the North they could only see as far as the village green.

To the South the visibility only stretched about half way along the length of the dunes.

As they walked, Stubborn Dog kept stopping to see Beach Buoy's reaction.

 In the end it just wasn't worth the hassle.

Stubborn Dog won, they turned back before getting anywhere near the stack.

As they headed back, Beach Buoy made a note of the morning's brief beach visit.

The 5B STAEDLER idea was working a treat, as the soft pencil wrote on the damp wrinkled pages of Beach Buoy's beach book with ease.

 

A group of brightly coloured beach cleaners walked the strand line as they headed north, collecting as they went.

At least there was a coffee waiting in the van.

Stubborn Dog sat in the back.

Beach Buoy sat alone in the front of the white van, sipping hot coffee and watching a misty world and it's cast go by.

A car pulled up nearby.

Mary Christmas stepped out of the vehicle.

It was a lady with a  long Santa type top on underneath her shorter outer coat.

She went to the promenade wall, took some photographs of the misty beach, she returned to her car and left.

Beach Buoy reckoned that she was on a reconnaissance mission for Santa, should he have to land on the beach in an emergency.

As Mary left there was another arrival.

A young man strode confidently towards the access ramp.

A stream of red and white (Santa Coloured) Barrier tape was unravelling from his left coat pocket

In his right hand was a red and white (Santa Coloured )

Traffic Cone.

His left hand held some sticky-in-the-sand sticks.

( A little known technical term.)

He headed towards the sea and seemed to mark out a narrow strip on the beach.

An emergency landing strip for you know who?

After all the big fella wouldn't be the first to use the beach as a landing strip.

Click on link below.

(If you would like to of course.)

SEATON CAREW 1914

The Hungry Seagull arrived.

The owners seemed to discuss wind direction as they decided as to which way the mobile outlet's serving hatch should face.

All we needed to completely reveal the Christmas plot was for one of them to say 'It looks like rain deer.'

That would be the giveaway password clue.

Was all it a figment of an old man's imagination?

No.

 Because on the way out of the car park, Beach Buoy spotted a lady dressed as a Christmas Elf step out her car and unload a pushchair.

Best Wishes to you and yours this Christmas.

It can the loneliest time of year.

BEACH BUOY.

            

SEATON CAREW 11 DEC 2020.

It was Friday.

It was 3-35 pm.

It was Grey.

Beach Buoy reached into the van to tempt Stubborn Dog out.

As he did, a couple dressed in hi-viz clothing rode along The Promenade on a Tandem.

The Tandem made them more noticeable than any brightly coloured clothing.

Like when you see someone driving at night when they have forgotten to put their lights on.

'Look at that idiot!'

No lights, but still spotted a mile off.

You see some things coming, others you don't.

The sky looked a little like a paint company's selection of greys as they looked for the next fashionable one.

Then there's a name to pick too.

The tide was well out.

 There was the slightest of breezes from the East.

The Wind Turbines were turning lazily, like out-stretched arms during an early morning yawn.

The sea wasn't rough out in the bay, but the waves were breaking about 200 metres from the shore.

By the time sea reached sand, it was all a white foamy busyness.

Beach Buoy picked five beach stones to add to Stubborn Dog stack.

As they headed towards their marker, a dog as big as the Hound of The Basket-fillers. Came bounding across the dunes.

Beach Buoy dropped the stones and picked up his little beach mate.

The large dog sniffed around, slightly puzzled.

Stubborn Dog did his Spit the Dog act and growled and barked at the big hound.

Stubborn Dog is never scared by bigger dogs.

Beach Buoy just picks him up to save any issues.

Eventually the hound followed its lady owner to the waters edge.

The stack was stacked.

They headed back.

The light had all but gone.

The lighter grey sky to the west of the dunes, had been replaced by the orange glow of industrial Teeside.

Later, Beach Buoy tried to do the blog.....

 

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS 10 12 20

As they headed for the beach in the van, Beach Buoy noticed that the sky was the colour of the grey tarmac of the road surface.

The grey road led them to a darker grey car park that was randomly scattered with vehicles.

It was 3-38 pm.

They headed for the beach.

The wind  was biting from the south.

The tide was way out.

They headed towards the sea.

The beach surface varied.

Much of the soft sand had been blown by the strong cold wind, leaving behind a crust like surface.

Like when it has snowed and the snowfall has been frozen overnight.

Beyond the crusty sand was shingle, beyond that , wet sand and the sea.

Some of the wet sand was soft, not quicksand as such, just maybe a little spritely?

They headed up to Stubborn Dog Stack, collecting four beach stones as they did so.

Beach Buoy chose flatter stones today, as he intended to wedge them in a few spaces in the lower part of the stack.

They headed back to the North.

The light changed.

It faded quickly, like on a summer's day when a big cloud rolls into to town to block the sunlight.

Today's cloud was called December.

It was only 4-05pm for goodness sake!

The headland seemed to become more clear as the darkness took hold.

The lights of the houses twinkled across the bay.

The Hartlepool Lighthouse flashed out its beam.

Beach Buoy counted the spaces... again.

Flash.

One apple and

Flash.

One apple and

Two apple and

Three apple and

Four apple and

Five apple and 

Six

Flash.

So in the unlikely event that one day you are drifting down the north east coast, lost.

The above pattern would guide you to Hartlepool.

If there is a red light  to the side, flashing on a regular 

Four apple and pattern, then congratulations you have found The Sea Serpent.

Whatever you do, if you hear the Mermaids on Longscar Rocks, give them the widest of all berths.

By the time they had reached the van, The Hungry Seagulls had its shutters up ready to roll.

Beach Buoy thought about how this Hungry Seagull Turns it's back to the wind when parking for a day's business where as real hungry seagulls face the wind.

BEACH BUOY.

09 DEC 2020. SEATON SANDS, SEATON CAREW.

Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog arrived at the beach car park at

 3-33 pm.

The air was still and fresh.

The tide was way out.

They walked to a point mid-way between the strand line and the water's edge, then headed south.

 

There were no massive waves.

It broke gently where the water met the sand.

The sea just rose and fell, like peoples hopes.

Out in the bay, the horizon looked as if it had been edged with lace.

The beach was very quiet.

They continued their walk to the south.

Beach Buoy collected four stones and headed up to Stubborn Dog Stack.

He placed them thoughtfully ensuring that the stack would remain stable for a long time to come.

The Sea Serpent surfaced near to it's marker.

An Aeroplane flew overhead, heading for Teeside's Airport.

They headed back.

The light was slipping away quicker than dry sand through loosely cupped hands.

By the time they had almost reached the car park some people had torches out on the sands.

Two customers were drawn to the bright lights of The Hungry Seagull.

Or maybe it was the smell of Coffee and Waffles?

Once served, the couple stood using the promenade wall as their picnic-in-the-dark table.

As they stood and watched the lights twinkle in the bay, The Hungry Seagull Owner began to turn his off.

Shutters went up.

As they do....

BEACH BUOY.

its me..STUBBORN DOG

he never lets me do the typing

He wrote the blog and went and made another blooming coffee.

Just wanted to say

Hello. 

right where is PUBLISH?

If he reads blog to check he will delete this

so

HELLO!

and GOODBYE

STUBBORN DOG.

SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL AND FISH SANDS HARTLEPOOL..... A DAY OFF !

When Beach Buoy woke it was still dark.

He had a think as to what time it may be.

He had gone to bed late, around 12-45 am.

Maybe 4-20?, 4-40?

He plumped for 4-55 am before reaching for his phone to confirm.

It was 4-56 am.

He laid back and listened for wind or rain outside.......

It was the sound of  a distant fog horn that caught his attention.

He went downstairs and made a coffee.

He paced around like an expectant Father waiting for daylight to come. 

Or at least a hint of it before he headed out.

He went and sharpened his 5 B STAEDLER  Pencil.

He has started taking a pencil for his beach notes now.

If it rains a pen struggles on the damp pages as he scribbles hints of notes as a reminder for when he and Stubborn Dog do their blog.

He made a warm drink to keep in the van.

Time to go.

He opened the front door and in an instant he was  made aware that the fog was a cold fog.

He placed the cup in one of the van's cup holders and returned to the house to collect Stubborn Dog and a extra hoodie.

He picked the little dog up,  as he did so it made the noise of a tilting teddy bear.

Stubborn Dog had three coats on to protect him from the chilly damp air.

They reached the car park at 7-40 am.

It was dark, damp and foggy.

Beach Buoy carried his little mate down to the beach.

They headed for the water's edge.

Exactly where the water's edge was bit of a mystery.

The silhouettes of a man and his dog gave a clue, as most people like to walk by the sea.

The visibility was around 200 metres.

Wind Turbines? ... no.

Hartlepool Headland? .... no.

Seaton Village Green? ... no.

Waves broke in the muffled air.

The sound was muffled a little more by Beach Buoy's three hoods.

A fog coloured Seagull came into focus as it travelled north above the breaking waves. Moments later it was gone as it faded and blended into the foggy greyness of the morning air.

Beach Buoy collected four cold, wet stones and headed for Stubborn Dog stack.

After the stack was stacked, he paused and looked out to sea.

The waves were almost perfect surfing waves, if a little small.

Beach Buoy was no expert, they just looked right.

People stood around looking like the Gormleys on Crosby beach.

Beach Buoy walked to the north.

He stopped to look at the sea once more.

Before he knew it he was staring out into the bay too, but  he was more gormless than Gormley.

He watched the sea as some people watch the flames of a fire.

 Waves collided, merged , stumbled and died; a bit like people do.

Once he had watched the random dance for quite a while, he headed for the van and coffee.

LATER....

Fish Sands.

Hartlepool.

Beach Buoy headed for The Fish Sands around noon.

He was so pleased to see a  man sitting, repairing a fishing net.

A nod to the past.

 

Lots of Ghosts on The Headland....

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL, 06 DEC 2020..

 

Beach Buoy woke at 5 am.

He stretched out an ear to try and listen from the darkness for any clues as to what the weather may be doing.

It sounded still, no wind.

Not raining too, he thought, just as raindrops began to fall.

He checked his mobile phone for the weather forecast.

50% chance of rain for pretty much most of day.

He went downstairs and made a milky coffee.

When it was time for the beach Stubborn Dog wouldn't budge.

Beach Buoy  acted out the 

'OK I'm going without you.'  routine... nothing

'Beach?' ...nothing.

'Walk?' ... nothing.

'Van?.' ... nothing.

It was only when he turned off the lights, as he said 'Goodbye.'

went and opened the front door, pretending to close it from the outside, did Stubborn Dog make a move.

They reached the car park at 7-42 am.

Stubborn Dog wasn't keen.

Beach Buoy carried him to the beach.

It was a waste of time.

To make Stubborn Dog more stubborn, it started to rain.

His Lordship was carried back to the Promenade Wall.

Coffee and Radio.

The Radio was turned down when the heavy rain started landing on the van's rood.

Stubborn Dog looked at Beach Buoy as if to say.

'See!'

' You idiot'.

 

Goodbye Sea... for now.

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS AND NORTH GARE BEACH. 05 DEC. 2020.

Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog arrived at the beach car park at

7-20am.

A baker's delivery van had parked up, waiting for the shop to open.

A man had rested his bike up against the promenade wall as he looked out to sea, drank from a bottle and smoked.

A partial moon hung over the car park.

A socially distanced 7 am club were already well on their way back from the south end of the beach.

They headed for the silvery blue and angry sea.

There wasn't a breath of wind on the beach, although there was some movement on the turbine blades out in the open expanse of the bay.

They headed  south towards a hint of daylight.

It was now 7-43 am.

Some stars were still visible but were being snuffed out, one by one as the daylight came.

The partial moon made sense, when you thought about where the sun was about to rise.

A murder of crows patrolled and picked at the strand line.

Six Oyster Catchers were down at the water's edge.

 The sea came rushing in, they all ran towards the dunes, well all but one, a one-legged one, he hopped. 

They all took flight. 

They added to Stubborn Dog stack, then headed back towards the river.

A dozen Oyster Catchers flew in a neat formation, just above the water's edge heading north.

Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog used the dunes to the reach the river as the tide was quite high.

The dunes can be a rocky road a times, but life can be too.

The river looked glorious in its Golden Pyjamas. 

A boat towed out a small barge in the morning's light.

There was a vast contrast between the calm of the rock pools and anger of the sea rushing into the river mouth.

They stood and watched the light change on the surface of the river  for a while.

Then it was back to Hartlepool Bay after pausing to admire the reflections at The Blue Lagoon.

The tide was well in.

 They left the Pier behind as they cut back through the dunes.

For a moment or two the temperature dropped. 

Beach Buoy noticed an almost overpowering smell that reminded him of  a white canvas tent that they would have had up in the dunes in his childhood. 

That smell  that hits you when you clamber into the tent.

It was a pleasant aroma / memory.

In an instant it was gone.

They headed down to the beach.

Stubborn Dog Stack is just about visible from the beach now.

The sun came out, shadows joined them for the walk back.

A Seagull circled round and round as he waited for two crows to finish their beach feast, to see what they had left behind, once they had finished.

They headed for the van and a coffee.

A mother was heading for the water's edge with a toddler.

They had winter coats and a bright red bucket and spade set.

Early December... Beach Buoy loved it.

 

Beach Buoy drank coffee as he made some beach notes.

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL 02 DEC 2020.

Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog reached the car park at 3-33 pm.

The access  ramp to the beach was a little busy.

A man slowly walked an old black dog up the ramp whilst talking on the phone.

"She's like your grandad; old and stubborn." he says on the phone as he passes Beach Buoy and The Stubbornest Dog of all.

A lady kelt down beside another old black dog that was sat on the sand, she gave it a hug and kissed it on the head.

It all looked very emotional as though they knew it was the dog's last beach visit.

Beach Buoy hoped that he was wrong.

That footage of the man who asked if anyone wanted to join him and his dog on its last beach walk breaks Beach Buoy's heart every single time.

Every time.

Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog headed for the water's edge.

A fighter jet rumbled overhead in a sky of light blues and pinks.

The tide was in, but nowhere as far in it was at the same time yesterday.

Beach Buoy is not very good with identifying some bird species so lets just say some pebbles with legs ran around at the water's edge.

The sea was calm, waves did break at the last moment as the sea reached the beach and poured another cup. 

They carefully stacked the stack, paused a while, then headed back to the north.

The tide was gradually making its way in.

The sea smoothed foot and paw prints of earlier walks, erasing history at will.

The sea does that.

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL 01 DEC. 2020.

Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog arrived in the car park at 3-40 pm

Stubborn Dog walked as far as the Hungry Seagull then went on strike.

Perhaps he fancied a waffle and coffee?

He was given a pick-me-up of another kind as Beach Buoy scooped up his little beach mate.

The tide was well in, making it a narrow beach today.

It was one of those tides that tries to catch you out.

Coming in and running on more than you would expect it to.

The air was still.

A large ship that was heading north, turned and aimed itself at the river mouth.

The beach narrowed more as they headed south.

To avoid wet feet, they cut through the dunes to reach the stack.

There is a lot of Sea Buckthorn in the dunes and they have spikes at Dog eye height.

Stubborn Dog was carried once more until the coast literally was clear.

They reached the stack to find much of it scattered in the dunes.

It was like the scene from the Wizard Of Oz, where the Scarecrow has his straw stuffing thrown all over by the flying monkeys.

'Thats you all over.' they said.

Beach Buoy clicked the heels of his Boots as he said

"The stack will go back"

Beach Buoy rebuilt the stack as he always will; its staying!

They headed back, alternating between the beach and dune edge to avoid the incoming sea.

The problem was that Stubborn Dog had a different idea of when they should be on the beach or on the dune.

As they made their way back, the light faded.

The horizon was just about visible.

Beacons beckon from the north and south of the bay.

The waves will continue, unseen but heard as night closes in.

                                                  They reached the promenade.

Even though it was dark, The Hungry Seagull was doing good business .

Beach Buoy rested on the promenade wall and watched  a Jaffa of a Moon rise from the sea.

BEACH BUOY.