JUNE 28, SATURDAY, please meet 9:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Kayak and Canoe
Outing, Big Wills Creek near Gadsden, Alabama.
Details: This will be Southeastern Outings’ sixteenth kayak and canoe trip on Big Wills Creek. This is a scenic stretch of river located in a very rural area. This stretch is fairly easy and without classified rapids. Along the river we’ll see wildflowers and stop to investigate islands and beaches. Forty-six SEO people participated in this very popular outing in 2015.
Novice canoeists are welcome and may come on this
trip, but each novice canoeist must
be partnered with an experienced canoeist in their canoe.
Please note that for this trip you may rent canoes and
one or two-person (tandem) sit-upon plastic kayaks and paddles from Big Wills
Outfitters.
Here is the schedule of
outfitter charges-Note cash only!):
1.
solo kayaks each $30
2.
canoes and tandem kayaks $50 each
3.
shuttle fee per boat for owned rather than
rented boats $10
Rental fees
include paddles, life jackets and shuttle service. Also, the outfitter will shuttle for a fee all
private boats used on this outing. If
you wish to rent a boat from Big Wills Outfitters, please call the outfitter
BEFORE Saturday, June 28 at 256/538-3226 to reserve your boat. Tell the outfitter you are boating with
Southeastern Outings. Please note that the outfitter has only 4
canoes and 57 one-person sit-upon kayaks and 5 tandem (2-person) sit-upon
kayaks for rent, so be sure you call to reserve early. Once all their boats of one type or the other
are reserved for June 28, there will be no more boats of that type available to
rent!
If you rent a boat from this outfitter, the outfitter
will take you and your rented boat to the put in, and you will take out at the
outfitter’s property so you will never need to transport your rented boat at
all. Life jackets, paddles and shuttle
fee are included in the rental boat fee for those who rent boats from the
outfitter. You may bring your own canoe
or kayak on this trip, but you must pay the outfitter to shuttle your
privately-owned boat. For more
information about the outfitter and photos of the creek, please visit their
website www.facebook.com/bigwillsoutfitters
When we arrive at the outfitter’s, you will sign a
waiver, pay your shuttle or boat rental fee, use the restroom, and then eat
lunch beside the creek at the outfitter’s take out. After you finish lunch, the outfitter will
transport ALL the boaters and their boats, both rented and owned, to the put
in. We will then paddle down the creek
to the take out at the outfitter’s, stopping along the way as often as we want
to.
Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 10 and
over welcome.
After the canoe and kayak trip we are probably going
to a restaurant in Gadsden for dinner.
Our going to dinner depends on what time we finish boating. If you would like to have dinner with us at
the restaurant after the kayak and canoe trip, please bring a change of
clothes. A changing room is available at
the outfitter’s.
Reservations Required: You must contact
Dan Frederick, email southeasternoutings@gmail.com or call
205/631-4680 if you plan to come on this kayak and canoe trip. You may leave
a message on Dan’s voice mail if you wish.
If you want
to come on the June 28 kayak and canoe trip AND you are renting a boat from the
outfitter at the site of the trip, you are required in this instance to call
the BOTH the outfitter to reserve your boat AND ALSO contact Dan
Frederick to notify him that you are coming!
Please do not just show up for this outing at the meeting place without
making advance reservations! Please meet 9:45 a.m. at the Applebee’s in
Trussville. We plan to depart from there
at 10:00 a.m. For more essential
information about this trip, please see Note for Kayak and Canoe Trips below.
Info. and trip leader: If you have questions or would like additional
information about this outing, please call Dan Frederick 205/631-4680 or email southeasternoutings@gmail.com.
Note
for Kayak and Canoe Trips
The
kayak and canoe outing listed in the announcement above is suitable for
beginner/novice canoeists and kayakers, but each beginner canoeist must
paddle with an experienced canoeist. Life jackets or personal flotation
devices are required and must be worn. Bring your own boat, borrow one,
paddle with a friend, or rent a kayak from the outfitter(s) listed.
Please bring in the boat your picnic lunch, something
to drink, and a towel. Put your belongings in a waterproof dry bag in the
boat. Wear old, thick-soled shoes you don’t mind getting wet (old
sneakers work well). Also bring at least 6 feet of sturdy cord to tie up
your boat if you don’t already have cord attached to your own boat. If
you have further questions, please call the trip leader.
When you make your reservation with the trip leader, please be absolutely
certain to provide ALL of the following information:
1. Whether you want to kayak or
canoe
2. Whether you are renting a boat
and what kind or bringing your own boat (kayak or canoe)
3. Your name
4. Your telephone number and/or
email address
5. If you are also making a
reservation for someone else coming with you, please give the NAME of that
person. Don’t just say, “My daughter, my friend, my wife”.
6. If you are canoeing, please give
your skill level.
7. If you have already selected a canoe
partner and you are making a reservation for your partner, too, please give the
name and skill level of your partner.
8. Please do NOT just show up at
the meeting place for a kayak and canoe trip without making an advance
reservation!!
9. If you have made a reservation
to participate and then decide to cancel, please be absolutely sure to call and
notify the trip leader 1 ½ hours or more before the event departure time.
Don’t just tell your friend if you intend to cancel!!
10. If you have made a reservation for a friend whom you have invited to come on this trip and your friend is not coming, you must notify the leader of this cancellation 1 ½ hours or more before the event departure time! No-shows cause considerable logistical complications for the leader and for the outfitter!
Float Note
Substantial, fabric-covered, inflatable, vinyl, rectangular floats like you use to ride the waves at the Gulf work
best. Trip leader Dan Frederick now has 72-inch-long floats for sale for
$23 each and 60-inch-long floats for sale for $15 each ONLY at the start of the river floats. Please pay either with exact change or a check made out to SEO. First come, first served.
Dan will provide hand float pumps to pump up your float or tube at the start point of the river float.
Note
for Kayak and Canoe Trips
The
kayak and canoe outings listed in the announcements above are suitable for
beginner/novice canoeists and kayakers, but each beginner canoeist must
paddle with an experienced canoeist. Life jackets or personal flotation
devices are required and must be worn. Bring your own boat, borrow one,
paddle with a friend, or rent a kayak from the outfitter(s) listed.
Please bring in the boat your picnic lunch, something
to drink, and a towel. Put your belongings in a waterproof dry bag in the
boat. Wear old, thick-soled shoes you don’t mind getting wet (old
sneakers work well). Also bring at least 6 feet of sturdy cord to tie up
your boat if you don’t already have cord attached to your own boat. If
you have further questions, please call the trip leader.
JULY 4, FRIDAY
Southeastern Outings Independence Day Picnic: Band concert, Fireworks, Potluck Dessert. More information will be forthcoming, here or by email.
