Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated by buoys and have a vast collection of a whole array of vibrant colours.
They make me think of an artist’s palette as well as the human hands that have touched them. In so many ways, they are like messages in bottles and one day, I hope to find one that has a real live message on it so that I can write back to the sender, wherever he or she may be.
Yesterday, I saw my precious Tramore Bay very much through the eyes of a buoy! I often wonder how it is that they never clash with their surroundings.
SOCIAL BRIDGE ~ Jean Tubridy connecting with you from Ireland 
Some go down to the coast for the buoys, and some for the gulls.
Hi Van, I go down for lots of things but get a real ‘zing’ when I see a colourful buoy washed up and waiting for me.
We share a passion… 🙂
http://wildsherkin.wordpress.com/2012/05/08/mad-about-the-buoy/
(I also await the day I find a message in a bottle..)
Thanks for writing and for the link, WS. I just loved your post in the same topic. While I’ve never tied mine to a tree, I’ve brought them all round the country with me as we moved house and there is one life buoy from a well known ship that I still have (found in the 1970ss) that leaves me with a small sense of being a thief but I think (hope) the ship people would understand, if they knew the whole story.
They are a bit addictive! I feel guilty too because I still haven’t done a thing with them.
I’d go as far as to say ‘very’ addictive! I wonder how many more such addicts there are around the world.
I used to collect fishing floats; not to catch fish with, but just because I liked the colours of them. That’s a grand buoy landed on your beach, like a mini planet!
Sarah, your point about the mini-planet has been on my mind all day and you’re so right. They are or can be like mini-planets. I decided to leave that one where it was as it seemed so at home on the beach in Tramore. I wonder where it is today.
I like your thoughts on buoys, Jean, very deep and I hope someday you do find a real message! This shot is wonderful, too!
Ah thanks, Lauren. I find stories about messages in bottles truly amazing ~ particularly the true life ones. The last one I heard had such an impact that it caused me to get out of my car and put in diesel instead of petrol! Talk about being away in some other world.