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.
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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!