ICW Boat Trip - NY to Florida Ep27 Lake O to Cape Coral

[@drumlover1687]

I can't express how much I've enjoyed watching these episodes on your channel! And Tom, Brigitt is 100% correct in her praise of you for the outstanding job of piloting Happy Ours that distance without any real issues. That's quite an accomplishment, and shows just how much pre voyage preparation and planning you obviously did!

[@lonniedufour2925]

Amen…Captain Tom you did an amazing job throughout the entire trip with your superb seamanship, navigation, knowledge of shipboard systems and repairs. Awesome job my friend! As we would say in the Navy, Bravo Zulu! Well Done!👌

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

@lonniedufour2925 thank you! Means a lot coming from an actual sailor!

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

@lonniedufour2925 thank you for your service!

[@joe-aj0yz]

Gotta love it when your girl says she's proud of you. A guy can do just about anything if he knows she's proud of him. Good show, kids!

[@ALVIEDZANE]

Been watching 27 episodes to see y'all get to LaBelle. My dad grew up there. After Labelle, you went through the Fort Denaud turntable bridge. What a great trip. Really nice channel. Just low key, great video, good people. Keep living the dream folks!

[@ralphholiman7401]

What a great series! Really enjoyed that! And, when you'll stop three miles from home to spend another night on the boat, just because you like it so much, you are definitely my kind of boater!

[@tinyubergeek9051]

Best celebratory fireworks ever

[@jaymalone6538]

Job well done Skipper! Awesome series you produced and Starred in as well. I was amazed by the calm intellect derived from years of experiences on the water and handling boats. Preforming your own maintenance and the research to plan and execute a trip like that, at just above trolling speed to conserve the fuel and equipment was an amazing thing to watch on you tube. I appreciate your efforts to record all the highs and lows of the Happy Ours you did spend. Thank you Tom and Brigitt.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Thank you!

[@ronschultz1977]

Echoing everything said. What an awesome adventure! Great job in navigating and capturing along the way! Thanks for sharing the whole thing. Awesome lightning display at the end of this video.

[@mickemike2148]

All right then! I guess I've made all the way along the ICW playlist, eventhough it said that it was 35 episodes. Thank you for letting me aboard this epic journey! Fair winds!

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Thanks for watching!

[@wendyrobertson3899]

Thank you for letting me see home. Grew up on Pine Island in the 70's. Oh how I MISS home. As a kid I paddled many miles in and around Pine Island, Matlacha, Captiva, Useppa and Sanibel just enjoying the wildlife and the maze of waterways in Matlacha pass up to Burnt Store Marina. I miss being on the water, smelling the salty tang in the air and the freedom of being out in the wide open spaces where water meets the sky. Love your videos so much.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Thank you and glad to share it! Come back home!

[@bradsmith5998]

If it were me Tom I wouldn’t have even bought. House. I’d just live on the boat full time. Still very happy for you and admiral Bridgette. Right on guys !

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

We had a short time when we thought about living aboard a while. I technically did, but reality set in and we thought better of it. Lol

[@clivebrowne9888]

Really enjoyed following your journey. You made it look so easy. Good of you to arrange the fireworks display to welcome you both home.

[@HOSTARMARINE]

Great job Skipper and the Admiral! I know you're happy to be home, but I am going to miss these videos!

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

We will continue to post our shenanigans. We have a bunch coming out of our trips around SW Florida prior to hurricane Ian coming out.

[@meoutwest]

That was a fun adventure. Thanks for bringing us along for the ride.

[@MrOpaulo]

What a great voyage. I've enjoyed it many times myself but this time, when I found your ICW episodes i was just making a coffee and have watched this non stop from the start this morning. My last time thru the Dismal was awesome, pure blue sky and 85 degrees. One of my favorite memories, and this morning from your trip a year ago I got to tag along and didn't have to lift a finger. Thanks so much for sharing

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Thanks for watching Paulie!

[@ChrisCottingham]

I have really enjoyed following your adventures. This is a great video. Always nice to see a happy couple. Good Job!!

[@bryangrady5661]

Thank you for this series! Thoroughly enjoyed each episode!

[@dougcampbell4402]

Nice couple. She was very sweet to him and he did do a great job!

[@rhutcheson3738]

Very much enjoyed following this adventure! Would love to do something similar one day.

[@tjborekvideo]

I enjoyed the lightning montage at the end, although it does come off a little foreboding knowing that Hurricane Ian wasn't far off. These series has been amazing to watch, Capt. Tom!

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Thank you!

[@ronaldsimmons8346]

I have also enjoyed this series very much, and congrats on the making the trip safely.

[@runltdan]

Wow!! Great job on putting the lightening video together. I’ve shot around 80 weddings and I love great photography work! Incredible display.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Thank you!

[@runltdan]

Great uplifting video👍👍. On one on y’all’s videos, during one of her Dance Party’s the song Reunited was playing and was all over ya dancing. In the event that you two reunited from the past…I’m there now. I’m 64 she’s 62…we met in 1978 in a school on Parris Island. We had just graduated boot camp. Boot Camp--HellOfA life experience 🤣😂🇺🇸. We plan to do a Ft. Lauderdale to Bimini trip in the spring. Keep Living life everyday⚓️ Dan

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Thank you both for your service! We hope to make the trip to Bimini one day also.

[@tefeixiang6861]

Absolutely love the videos totally mesmerizing and its great how the videos pop up in the right order, total enjoyment! thank you for the fantasy, excellent, you've got talent my man!

[@GerhardBerstel]

You must be a very very nice coupe I enjoyed your Boats trip I am a FAN of Florida Best greetings from Germany Gerd

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Thank you very much!

[@size-matters]

Thanks for sharing. So happy you made it safely. Sorry you got there just in time for Ian.

[@jayne4763]

We’ve been watching each episode from NY to Cape Coral. Thanks for sharing your adventure! We learned a bunch and appreciate everything you shared. We were very concerned after the hurricane and are happy you stayed safe and the boat faired so well. We also live in Cape Coral (part-time for now) and hope to bring our boat down from Somers Point, NJ this summer. Your series was informative and fun. Brigitt is adorable. Hope to see you around town or on the waterways. Thanks for creating great content!

[@hydrashieldbasementservice8453]

So cool watching your trip progress.... nice work.

[@leanneadams2549]

Wow. Great timing ! Can’t wait to watch !

[@scotthall3816]

Who's 💡 idea for the ending it was great 😃👍

[@deanglicos4465]

I miss those summer afternoon storms. Only a few more months and they'll be back. Nice video of the Okeechobee Waterway. Many Floridians don't even know about it. Technically everything south of there is an island.

[@johnwood1953]

I'm glad yall made it safe. I followed you guys from NYC. It was a great trip. She the admiral lol. The boss. Great time. Till next time stay up

[@LeDeauville]

Always very pleasant to follow you ... especially when we are in the north of New York state

[@jonmelvin6852]

Great job you guys! Brigitt needs no beauty sleep by the way! 😎 The almost home party was great! Keep the how to’s coming as well. Happy New Year.

[@tricktaylor]

Loved the ride. Hout my highrr version of self...i want a yacht so bad. Id live on it alome somewhere here in San Diego.

[@RoadGlider1839]

Hey Guys for some reason You both seem so familiar anyways, Enjoyed your travels it was fun, Lived in North Jersey long time, Great time Best Wishes Karl

[@darbovision2672]

Congratulations on finishing this journey! I have to say, Bridgette is adorable! Of course you know that.

[@lonniedufour2925]

Fresh water wash down!😂

[@stevecraig3004]

It's been so much fun watching your big adventure! Congratulations! Best of luck in the future!

[@philip8624]

Great appisode Tom..an Brige..have to check out that boat bar..on my way through there..my sister inlaw has a condo in north Fort Myers on a sandspit..so i'll be headen there..long way

[@philip8624]

For me..but we'll get there..happy trials guys!

[@USAMOTORHOME]

Beautiful trip :)

[@davidmcdonald562]

"Your zipper is not all the way zipped!" I think Happy Ours has its motto.

[@bayman49]

Nice job!!

[@NautiGrandpa]

I've followed yall from the beginning, hate to see this trip end. Glad Happy Ours survived the hurricane.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

So many adventures to come. We actually did some gulf coast exploring. Those vids will be out soon.

[@BellavistaPEI]

Sooo....I binge watched the first several episodes and THOROUGHLY enjoyed each and every minute from your preparation to your arrival. It got to the point of anxiously wondering when the next episode would be out!! I'm very happy that you've made it safely and without any major incidents...CONGRATULATIONS!!🍻🥂 Now....the next question is a doozy.....would you do it again and would you consider doing the whole loop, even up here in Canada?

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

I would do it again. I don’t think I would do the entire loop though. I don’t have much interest in going south on the river. We’d like to visit the keys and possibly Bahamas and Bimini. I need Brigitt to retire for that. Lol. Thanks for following along. Much more to come!

[@fsuersal]

THIS WAS GREAT.

[@barrymolloy6237]

Those Thunderstorms are a little more violent in Florida than New York! Looking forward to completely the journey with you.

[@lesliefleming4359]

Love what you’re doing. We usually spend our time traveling the Erie , Champlain canals and associate Lakes. Hudson River is fun between Albany and New York City as well. Plenty of nice stops along the Hudson.

[@runltdan]

Great footage my friends. You capture and share some of the most beautiful parts of the trip. Your camera is STABLE! You’ve seen those in which they chase every scene…too much movement. When it’s just one of you speaking…you include the background in the video. Keep it up. Please look into Great Harbor Cay. Diamond in the rough. Been there twice.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Thank you very much!

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Where is great harbor cay?

[@michaelhaase778]

We loved the Boat house as well..what a shame that it was destroyed by Ian...i hope they rebuild.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

I’m sure they will. When is the question. The city is dragging its feet on the restoration of the yacht club area.

[@michaeleavenson6880]

Awesome

[@lewisg5655]

Thanks Tommy, really really great to watch ! If you ever come to NZ call me. I will take you out on the water here. I feel like we are good buddies already !

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Thanks Lewis!

[@robertsouthrey3480]

well done my friend

[@billsm126]

Thank you for sharing your trip it’s a great experience to travel with you. Happy new year to all!

[@EdEdelenbos]

Well done! Congrats. Worry about what's to come/what came in its own time.

[@tec1974]

We stayed at that Westin at Tarpon Point a few years back. Beautiful place, sad to see the destruction it took.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

It will be back better than ever!

[@km0e69]

Wow that lightning was sure pretty, sitting here in the middle of Missouri. I hope it wasn't too intense for you guys. It was a very nice ending video to your trip. If only you could have predicted the future and turned around. Take Care and love your videos.

[@robertlevine8243]

Great video any cream cheese or bagels with those lox’s lol

[@jamesschulz5518]

Great fun watching your videos ! Im down in Naples this week I love boating ! Do u miss the change season s on the Hudson? Mountains and water are a nice change up

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Nope. Don’t miss the cold one bit. Lol. I was in NY for hunting season and froze my butt off. Lol

[@macgyvernetwork1437]

Everything I read about Lake Okeechobee says it is polluted from all the fertilizer run off. Is this true? I always thought it would be disgusting with no one around but from your video it looks beautiful with all those nice houses around. Great content. Keep it coming!

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

The claim is the fertilizer creates algae blooms further down river. We haven’t seen bad blooms in a few years.

[@Ryanrock2]

I watched and enjoyed every episode. Just wondering if the boat came with a trailer. It could have saved lots of money in fuel, engine hrs, time. It would be fun to do that if everything goes smoothly. Very good Captain, maybe Chief of Naval Operations, above The Admiral!

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

To trailer the boat would entail hiring a shipping company with low rider flat bed. Also dismantling the radar arch, antenna, windshield and other equipment. That cost is roughly $20k. So cheaper for me to drive it especially being retired with all the time I need.

[@Ryanrock2]

That makes sense. Thanks for responding

[@cajunoneforchrist4545]

She's great company lol

[@jonathanbradley6819]

I enjoyed watching the trip from start to "almost" finished! Will you have a video recapping the trip (How many hours total? Fuel used?)

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Oh yes we have a recap video in the works. 2 more vids to go and we’re all done. Thanks for following along.

[@geraldrothman211]

The captain should in my opinion mention how to approach and dock your boat. There are two choices depending on the wind and current. In other words you approach the dock which is prevent. Usually it’s the current not the wind. Always be careful . Therefore bring the bow into the incoming or outgoing tide . Gerald P Rothman Captian

[@benwintfeld2983]

Hello Tom, I know it’s been a long boat ride from upstate New York to Cape Coral right before hurricane Ian. I will mention that my fience and her family is in the Fort Myers area in a town called Estero. My friend should be coming home who used to live in the same town as me on Saturday and I have another friend who has vacation home in the Fort Myers area. I will mention using I normally use JetBlue but unfortunately I can’t fly as of right now due to covid and my mother is at high risk. Also I am a huge JetBlue fan for a long time. In the past my parents own a boat on Long Island. By the way I did review your KZbin account and KZbin is my favorite. See you soon.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Thanks Ben. We often fly Southwest or Allegiant from upstate NY to Punta Gorda. Quick nonstop flight.

[@benwintfeld2983]

I have frequent flyer miles on JetBlue that’s the only airline I normally use. Do you have a Facebook account?

[@michaelhaase778]

Oh just realized diffrent Boathouse....i was talking about the one in Cape Coral

[@bradsmith5998]

Hey guys. When is the first trip across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas ? Welcome home.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

One day!

[@jrac863]

What a great trip guys hate to see it come to an end.Hey tom I know you were keeping track of fuel usage from New York to florida.What did you end up using on the entire trip?

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

We’ll be recapping the entire trip and putting another video out to discuss. Thanks for watching!

[@bobpitts6068]

How did you prepare for this trip. Any info would be greatly appreciated

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

The first episode of the series talks about our planning and prep for the trip. Here is the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3KcZpyFi5t4sNksi=eKRYrbThFQaV2cFU

[@richmiller2501]

If i can ask, what was the lowest draft AND what the the lowest Non-opening bridge on this trip?

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

We practically ran aground at one point in South Carolina. I think the lowest non opening bridge is over 50’ on the intracoastal but I could be wrong.

[@richmiller2501]

@@AdventuresofHappyOurs how did u handle running aground? how about a boat with a 6.3 foot dtaft....

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

It’s was a soft skimming more than grounding. We were dragging along in The mud. We only draw 3.5 feet so a 6 foot vessel would be pretty stuck even in soft mud.

[@richmiller2501]

@@AdventuresofHappyOurs that was in open waters? how far off the coast were you? I was wondering about the trip from east to west FL

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

When we touched bottom it was on the ICW in south Caroline just north of Beaufort.