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| Beach Buoy slowly slid open the side door on the van as Eight was being struck in the nearby Church Clock Tower. The car park was cold and empty when they had arrived. He parked in the North East corner, next to the M/C sign that was painted on the uneven tarmac. Someone had carefully stood up, an empty drinks can and left it for another to move. Beach Buoy was the "Another." He put Stubborn Dog next to the van, hooked his lead over an upturned armrest and grabbed a handful of Midget Gems that were left-over from a recent football match, two yellow, one orange and one red,; "That's breakfast sorted." Off they went; heading for a rubbish bin first of all; he was left carrying the can again! They crossed the small patch of grass that is in front of the car park. The grass is still peppered with cardboard pieces that were a by-product of last November's firework display. The "BIG BELLY" bin opened wide and in went the can. |
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| The Beach was cold and grey. A couple were heading north towards the Seaton Carew wreck. The wreck is hidden by the tide twice a day and sometimes is buried for long periods by the shifting Seaton Sands. |
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| The tide was well out. The wet beach reflected the light that was shining over on South Gare Pier and also the poor excuse for a sunrise beyond Saltburn and Staithes, It was cold enough for hat, gloves and two hoods up; Beach Buoy had them all. The beach was clean again today. Four Seagulls floated together just offshore in a calm spot, behind a bit of a sand bank. They looked like hook-a-ducks; bobbing about, albeit Ducks in Seagull fancy dress, number Twenty Seven (Only even numbers get prize; sorry) rose from the Sea and disappeared Northwards, leaving his three mates looking around to make sure that they had not missed an in-coming threat. "That's odd." they seemed to be thinking. Correct it is, so no prize! |
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| The wreck that appeared a couple of days ago could be seen again today amongst the breaking waves. |
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| It felt as if it was becoming colder. Beach Buoy made fists with his gloved hands and tucked his cold finger ends into their warmer palms. |
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| The Sea Serpent was taking a bit of a battering from the sea. The fish in the numerous local fish shops were fairing worse. |
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| The wreck that Beach Buoy had reported to Tees Archaeology a number of months back was almost fully visible today. It was recorded a new wreck to them and given the number SMR 5090 . It was around 6 metres long. Beach Buoy took the opportunity to take more photographs to pass onto Tees Archaeology.. see below. |
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| Beach Buoy hadn't noticed the broken rectangular plate with half a hole before. |
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| Copperwork as bright as a button. |
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| Beach Buoy headed for North Gare Pier and the beach beyond he glanced back at Seaton Sands. You can see SMR 5090 just left of centre on the picture, near to the water's edge. |
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| He ventured along the Pier for a change. The tide was out almost as far as the end of the Pier but the North Sea still rolled in. |
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| A slightly different view of the Sea Serpent marker. Beach Buoy went as far as the end of the Pier. A lone fisherman stood on the northerly side, trying his luck as the tide turned . There was another man with a Jack Russell on a lead. Beach Buoy then wondered if anyone called Jack Russell had ever owned a Jack Russell? Did Saint Bernard ever have a St. Bernard, Did a German Shepherd ever.... ah well ... most probably it is a Yes for that one. |
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| As the tide was so far out, Beach Buoy went on a bit of a hunt down by the River Tees. There were lots of exposed rocks to slip and slide over. A lovely Blue sea alley laid waiting in the shingle that filled the gaps between the wet rocks. As he progressed, around six Oyster Catchers would take flight for a short distance and then land. They would move again and again as Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog approached . It ended up a bit like Oyster-Catch-me-if-you-can. Either that or they thought he was the Oyster Catcher Catcher! Beach Buoy and Stubborn dog headed back to the Bay. The sun came out a little and shone more upon the horizon than it did on the beach. It picked out the white wheel houses / bridges of the ships that until then had been hidden from view far out at sea. The light travelled to land and lit up the houses on Hartlepool Headland. It never did reach the beach today. BEACH BUOY. |
