It was one of these evenings
when you wanted to linger outdoors
and stay and watch the ever changing sky.
You were hesitant to go indoors
as the sky morphed from blue to almost black
by going through all the colours of the setting sun.
On Friday and Saturday we had letter-box sunsets.
On both evenings clouds began to form in the west.
The sunset could only be viewed through a slit in the clouds.
After a bright, warm and sunny Sunday the sky looked promising.
As the evening wore on it looked like a sunset was guaranteed.
However, you can never tell – there are no guarantees.
With the sky hinting at the approaching sunset we left home.
We made our way to the memorial in Pier Road.
Ben More to the East was changing colour.
The Passage of Tiree was so clear.
Turning round and looking west the memorial was a silhouette.
At this point the sun was still relatively high in the sky.
But it was dropping fast towards the horizon.
On the way to Gott Bay and the pier we stopped at An Turas.
An Turas means ‘the journey and provides a window on the island.
Open to the sky above it was channelling the colourful rays of the setting sun.
On the opposite side of the road
in a garden are some stunted palm trees.
and the view of the setting sun through then
almost transported you to more distant warmer shores.
Even the Pier Office windows took on the colours of the setting sun.
For by now the sun was almost on the horizon.
The clouds were just right this evening —
‘not too many and not too thick’.
As the sun dropped lower and lower the sky was so impressive.
The setting sun was reflected by the waters of Gott Bay.
Gulls were swooping and swirling over the water.
It was as if they were enjoying the scene too.
What a colourful backdrop for the yellow of the iris.
The iris are opening up all over the island.
What colour they bring with them.
With the sun below the horizon the drama continued.
It seemed as it the light show was almost unending.
North, South, East and West took on its hues.
As we hesitantly made our way back towards home
we became aware that we were not alone in capturing the scene
yet you felt no camera could truly or accurately capture the mood.
Sadly we cannot offer any guarantees to visitors.
Sunsets cannot be order on demand.
This was just one of these evenings.
This is ‘Life on Tiree’.
