Today was spent ticking off more minutia on the pre-departure to-do list and is hardly worth chronicling. So…..
Would like to start tonight’s post by introducing Reid and Rheta White, the amazing owners of S/V Amel. We met 13 yrs ago while we were sailing on Mandolin and they were on Alibi with their 4 children ages 12 through 20. While we only had 5 months together sailing along the south coast of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, we formed a friendship that has continued through the years. When we got married in 2007 they and their very talented children Jaime, Christine, Scott and Michael, drove down from Smithers, BC to be the musicians for our wedding – it meant so much!
Jumping forward to recent years, we were invited to join Reid and Rheta on S/V Amel this past January for a vacation in the Bahamas. It was a fabulous trip and very generous of them to share their floating home with us, not to mention for a trip that lasted 3 weeks. Henry and Emma loved it all and brought home so many memories. It was great to spend time together again on the water after so many years apart.
This winter, Reid and Rheta were not planning to sail the boat but rather work in the boatyard to upgrade some major boat systems and then spend time with the growing crop of grandkids up north. They were crazy enough to change those plans a bit and let us sail the boat ALONE… with them staying behind in Canada. Reid came down to help Mike prepare, and together they ticked off as many of the smaller upgrade/repair items as practical before Reid headed back home. We miss their presence on the boat so much and think of them every day. Emma still looks around corners expecting to find Rheta there!
We owe Reid and Rheta a huge debt of gratitude and are blessed to have them and their family in our lives.
DCIM\100GOPRO\GOPR0357. 
Fun Afloat 