JULY 7, SATURDAY,
9:00 a.m. (CANCELLED)
Easy River Float,
Picnic, Swim, Short, Moderate Dayhike
Details: Easy river float on the Locust
Fork River. Float in the river from
Swann Covered Bridge to Powell Falls.
We’ll view a genuine, old but newly refurbished wooden covered
bridge. Then we’ll float under the
bridge and further, about a mile and a half, downstream to the waterfall. We’ll also view the sheer cliffs that rise
about 60 feet above the river. So enjoy
a flowing river, covered bridge, high rock bluffs and at least one
waterfall—all along a one mile stretch of this river. Bring something to float on such as an inflatable vinyl float or
air mattress. Substantial, fabric-covered, inflatable, vinyl, rectangular floats like you use to ride
the waves at the Gulf work best. See
float note below for information about acquiring floats.
Also
please bring a picnic lunch, drink, towel and
sunscreen. Pack these items in 2 plastic garbage bags with twist ties,
one bag
over the other. Then put the bags in
your daypack and strap the pack to your back.
This keeps your things dry and prevents them from floating away. Wear
swimsuit and sturdy foot protection. Old sneakers work well. Bare
feet, flip-flops, slip-ons and thin-soled “beach shoes” are not
acceptable!
Lunch will be on the huge flat rock in the middle of the
river beside the waterfall. Have fun
swimming in the pool at the base of the rock, jumping into the pool, climbing
up and down or just sitting in Powell Falls.
We will walk back to the bridge on a trail along the river. You must be able to swim to participate
in this outing!
Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 7 and up able to swim welcome, but parents are
responsible for all risks to their children.
Spring floats,
passenger car and pick up truck tire tubes and inflatable boats are not
permitted on SEO river floats! A spring
float is a flotation device consisting of an inflatable outer oval with a small,
few inch diameter cross section and a large mesh interior. The last time a woman tried to float down this river with
us on a spring float (now that I know what it is called), I had to order two
high school football players in our group to wade out into the river
immediately to seize her and her spring float in order to prevent her from
being swept over the big waterfall. Those
spring floats are meant for floating in swimming pools and on lakes in still
water, not for floating the Locust Fork River. They are difficult to steer
and therefore unsafe for use on Southeastern Outings river floats.
Bring a friend or several if you wish.
Please be at the Cleveland Chevron Service
Station no later than 8:45 a.m. ready to depart promptly at 9:00 a.m. Arriving 15 minutes before departure time
will allow time to use the restrooms at the service station, hear announcements
concerning the day’s event, and form carpools from the Chevron. Parking is extremely limited at the put in
point on the river.
Info: Dan Frederick,
seoutings@bellsouth.net or 205/631-4680
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
has children’s floats (60 inches long) for $12 each for sale ONLY at the start of outings Dan
attends. We regret that at this time we
have been unable to find a source where we can buy more of the longer 72-inch
canvas-covered floats. Please pay
either with exact change or a
check made out to SEO. First come,
first served.
Here is an alternative to carrying your lunches, water,
towel and sunscreen in a pack on your back. You can bring with you four
6-7 foot lengths of sturdy cord. Place your pack with your things in it
in the middle of the foot of your float. Lash the pack to your float with
two of the cords, one passing around the float and through the top of the
straps and the other passing around the float and through the bottom of the
straps of your pack. Pass the other two cords over the top of your pack
and under the float and tie them down tightly.
Then lie on your float with the pack sort of between your knees with
your feet splayed out at the bottom corners of your float. Using this
method eliminates your having to float down the river for several hours on your
belly with a pack on your back, and it also gives you the option of turning
over and lying on your back in the slower-moving sections of the river in order
to change your body position and float more comfortably. If you are an
adult, this method of fastening your pack to your float works only if you are
using a 72-in long rectangular float.
Either method of transporting your pack is satisfactory and
acceptable. But I learned that people like it when you give them
choices. In any case, your lunches, etc. should be double bagged (or
placed in a waterproof canoe bag) inside your pack.
Inflatable boats
are not permitted on SEO river floats!
