Trip Description: This short paddle trip is designed to dovetail with the Houston Heat's introductory Dragon Boat event at Clear Lake Park on the same morning. If you'd like to paddle both a dragon boat and a sea kayak, head on out to the park in the morning and stay for the HASK paddle. To paddle a Dragon Boat, you should register separately on the Houston Heat website that is specified in the NON-HASK EVENT posted on the HASK calendar for the same day. Even if you don't want to register to paddle a Dragon Boat, come on out early and just look around.
At the end of the Dragon Boat Event, the HASK paddle will launch from the Bay Area Rowing Club docks in Clear Lake Park and paddle north, into Mud Lake and then into Horsepen Bayou. John Grisaffi, HASK's Poet Laureate, has described our "serpentine path north bordered by a lush, verdant landscape, providing home to alligators, turtles, and numerous bird species. A lazy gator and a few turtles are usually visible on this stretch of bayou."
This is normally a Level 1 paddle except that our day will be windy, so our time on Mud Lake will require some work and boat control. As such, this is a great time for entry-level kayakers to practice and receive instructions on strokes, steering, and boat control, if desired (not mandatory).This trip will not include a lunch stop, so you should eat ahead of time or bring your lunch and munch while you browse the Dragon Boats and kayaks on the shoreline.
Be sure to bring plenty of water, sunscreen, insect repellent, and snack if desired, and of course your PFD. The weather forecast indicates you should have your rain gear handy in your boat
Directions: Click the Map quest link for map. From Houston take I-45 south toward Galveston, take Exit 24 to East NASA Parkway (NASA Road 1) , take a left and travel 5.5 miles east to Clear Lake Park. The Dragon Boat launch site is at the boat ramps on the right. The HASK paddle trip launches from the docks in the park on the left.
Lat - lon of the put-in is 29° 33.9843'N, 95° 4.20468'W
Plan to arrive at the put-in by 11:30 so we can be on the water by noon.
Hazards: Stumps, alligators, heat, dehydration, snakes, mosquitoes, wasps, thunderstorms, DRAGONS!!!
| Trip Leader |
Carl Kuhnen |
| Trip Assistants |
|
| Trip Rating* |
1 - 2 |
| Ready to Launch at |
Noon
|
| Duration (hours) |
3
|
| Paddling Miles |
6 miles
|
| Emergency Initiator |
n/a |
| Emergency Phone #s |
|
| Latest Expected Return |
3:00 PM
|
| Auto Description/Lic # |
Teal green Honda CRV FWC6215
|
| Distance from Houston |
Approx 28 miles
|