As I run along the promenade, the tide is high, and the sun is already glistening off the bright blue water. My feet pound the pavement as music blares in my ears, clearing out the morning fog in my brain.

I continue running, feeling the burn in my calves. Two old fishing boats catch my eye as I run by. They have been docked on the pebbles and are worn and tired-looking. They look more like rowing boats, but the locals told me the fishermen used to use them for the early morning catch. Next to the boats are the last remaining two lockers—or as we would call them, cold storage units—left on the beach. The scent of fresh fish oozes out of them from this morning’s fishing trawl. Previous lockers had been forced to close due to the dying fishing trade. People prefer to buy fresh fish from the supermarkets now with their weekly or monthly shop. These last lockers have been passed down through generations, and even though they struggle to keep going, their love of the sea brings them back each morning.

Alongside the lockers sit mounds of fishing nets, some of them so old that it’s a wonder they can still be used. Their original emerald colour is now a mixture of faded green and orange from rust that has soaked into them off the boats and tools used. Occasionally, you can spot a couple of younger teens fixing up the nets to help keep them going.

Finally free of the fish scents, I’m now treated to the salty sea air, which I breathe in deeply. I watch the waves roll in and cascade back down on the pebbles, creating that unique sound that instantly brightens me.

The early hours of the day are so calming, seeing a whole different way of life before children, commuters, and the heavy traffic wake up to start their day. Seagulls squawk and dive into the water, capturing their breakfast before they start on their adventures of stealing ice creams and chips from the tourists.

I know it’s going to be a busy one because the sun is already glowing in the sky. Sunshine always attracts extra people to the town, and those extra people need feeding, which is where I come in.

I turn my music up louder as I finish my run, relishing the salty feeling on my sticky skin. 

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