CLAPS V
The Colorful Creek!!
Time to get out and cache on the water - whether again or for your fist time! Want to paddle in a really pretty area? Want to get out on the water but don't want to paddle? Either way, this series was designed with you in mind! Welcome to the Clear Lake Area Paddle Series!
This is the Fifth installment of the CLAPS series! (You knew it was coming sometime.) This series is about 4.35 miles of paddling from beginning to end. If you are paddling, you can put in at Countryside Park, Challenger 7 Park, or Walter Hall Park. You can do it as one long paddle or brake it into smaller paddle excursions.
Because motor boats *are* allowed on Clear Creek, you may get the thrill of 'white water' kayaking or canoeing. When a ski boat goes by at full-tilt, the wake can make this trip exciting. If you are paddling, your opportunity to truly earn the terrain stars is definitely higher here than on the other CLAPS series.
If you do attempt to get these via boat, know that these were placed low for paddlers, but not off in any of the very cool, small coves where paddlers can go but getting there in a boat may be too difficult. These areas are definitely worth checking out if you have the time (great birding and wildlife opportunities), but there are no CLAPS caches there. I will say, getting this series on Jet Ski would be an absolute blast. 
.
Be sure when you log #1 that you tell us about your journey. Don't make your log for #1 a cut-n-paste, please! Tell us what you used to do the series (kayak, canoe, Jet Ski,John boat, from an inner tube pulled behind a 25' SeaDoo jet boat, etc.). Tell us about your experience, adventure(s), wildlife, and anything else memorable. Tell us about any fish you caught, fish that jumped in your boat, gators you saw, or angry bird encounters. And if anyone tumped out, or jumped out to get a cache, stories and photos are appreciated by all! You get the idea here...
The CLAPS paddle series are designed so that the caches would be obtained, primarily, by paddling (kayak, canoe, raft, etc.). Of course, there may be other ways to get to the cache. Especially this series, as motorized boats are allowed in Clear Creek -- but that's cheating (I'm OK with that ). We hope that other cachers will contribute to this paddle series or start their own in other nearby areas.
Sound like fun? It should be! But before you attempt this series, please consider the following:
- You will get wet, and possibly soaked, doing this series.
- Motorized boats, Jet Skis, etc. are allowed in Clear Creek and most sections are NOT subject to a No Wake zone. Be aware of where you are, and stick to the edge of the creek around bends, etc. And get ready for the wake. Or, for CLAPS V, use a motorized boat!
- Bring a couple gallon-sized ziplock baggies -- one for your GPSr (easy to operate in a large bag), one for your camera and phone, and one for anything else you don't want to get wet. Trap a little air in them and they float should they fall out of the boat.
- Bring sunscreen!
- Bring a hat - especially in summer.
- Bring lots of bottled water!
- Wear a PFD / Lifejacket.
- Bring your camera... but don't drop it!
- Bring your cell phone... just in case.
- Motorized boats are allowed in Clear Creek (CLAPS V). If you do other CLAPS series caches, please know that no motors are allowed in Armand Bayou from GPS marker #4 upstream through trail marker #26 (which includes just about all CLAPS series caches except some of the the southernmost caches in Mud Lake).
There are no geocaching.com attributes for alligators. Watch out for alligators! While likely they are not as prevalent in Clear Creek as in other CLAPS series, they are out there... somewhere. DO NOT FEED or pester the alligators - you could get in trouble in more ways than one.
***Contact me through my geocaching.com profile if you need ideas on how to get paddling to get these caches!***
Check out the CLAPS Challenge Cache HERE: CLAPS Challenge Cache - GC2ANX3.
Thanks to Kirbydox for assisting in the placement of these caches!
Congrats to Manofsteel73 and geohiker for FTF!
This cache placed by a
Member.
Come visit our website.
|
About the other CLAPS series:
The first installment (18 caches plus a bonus "unknown" -- from ~ Bay Area Park towards Clear Lake) can be found HERE: CLAPS I #1 - GC29RAB.
The CLAPS Alphabet series is currently 12 caches (A-L), also in the same area as the original CLAPS series, from ~ Bay Area Park towards Clear Lake ~ and can be found HERE: CLAPS A GC2JF0Y. Thanks, Kirbydox, for putting this series out! (This series may be added to soon without CO's knowledge. Shhhhh.)
The second installment (6 caches running down Big Island Slough from Red Bluff to Armand Bayou) can be found HERE: CLAPS II#1 - GC2CBEZ. Thanks, FunSize03, for putting this series out!
The third installment of this series now has 13 numbered caches (including a multi and puzzle), plus an unnumbered letterbox and an EarthCache. The series runs upstream on Armand Bayou towards its source and is a great nature getaway. The third installment starts HERE: CLAPS III #01 - GC22BD1N.
The fourth installment contains 9 caches that run along Hosepen Bayou to its confluence with Armand Bayou. You can get there from Bay Area or Clear Lake Park, or put in at on Middlebrook Drive at the bridge. Another great nature hit. The fourth installment starts HERE: CLAPS IV #01 - GC2DPXP. Thanks, Crankset Cacher, for putting this series out!