Our recent guests, Ian and Fiona Woods, sent in a lovely review of their recent cruise. Ian mentioned that the cruise gave some spectacular highlights but for him the encounter with the humpback whale on the return leg was amazing but even better was the sunset off the Cairns of Coll. The evening meal had just finished when Skipper Bren came to announce that the sunset promised to be spectacular. Ian spent a good hour on the top deck photographing the beauty of the sunset and became aware of something special as Zoe, Hannah and Bren remained on top. There was total silence as they reflected on the profoundness of the scene. Both of those episodes led Ian to compose 2 poems which he read on the final night of the cruise - much to everyone's enjoyment. With Ian's permission, we publish them here so you can enjoy them too.
Whale Song
I see you Traveller
Sailing through my life
On your short journeys
You glimpse of me
Just fleeting moments
Enough, I think, to bring pleasure
But my journeys are long
In the deep ocean
Without the borders you create
Sometimes, you will see me
Leap high into your world,
Into your memory, into your dreams
When you are far from these seas
I will still swim through your life
You will never forget me
Sunset – Cairns of Coll
It is one thing
To hear just the lapping of waves
And the cry of seabirds
As the sun sets on the
Cairns of Coll
But nothing
Prepares for the moment
When clouds are thrown aside
And the light blazes forth
Like a warrior in death throes
And this is special
This commands silence from the watchers
The daily dying of the light
Piercing individual hearts
There is resurrection tomorrow
Always believe it loved ones
We booked up this cruise over a year in advance as it seemed so popular. When we did it we saw why. It was all and more we had anticipated and that in no small part is down to the fantastic skipper and crew. They treated us more like family than paying guests and did all they could to ensure we had a great time. The islands are beautiful in their own right but with the expert knowledge of the skipper we went to secluded bays and gorgeous beaches and always moored somewhere with amazing views. Thanks To Bella the wildlife guide we saw things we would have missed ourselves and we were treated to sea eagles, porpoises, dolphins and a few minke whales! Sammy fed us like royalty with imaginative and super tasty meals and then there was the daily homemade cakes. Yum. Abbie looked after everything on board even down to different table decorations every night and chocs on the pillow. Will was always polishing or painting and taking us shore in the tender. All in all a brilliant holiday and we have already booked up our next one.
Mark Duncan: 17 September 2024Skye and the Small Isles: Hebridean horizons