July 2019 Activities








JULY 4, THURSDAY, 6:30 p.m.
4th of July Picnic
Where: Bartow Arena Park


Details: Please bring your own blanket or chairs and all your picnic supplies: food, drinks (no alcohol, please), cups, ice, utensils, etc.  Look for the SEO signs.  SEO people will assemble to the right of the dragon statue (as you face the band) right where the grass ends and the concrete floor leading to the entrance to the arena begins.   Well-behaved children, but no dogs, are welcome. 

Reservations: Not required.

Info: Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or 205/631-4680


JULY 4, THURSDAY, 7:00 p.m.
FREE 4th of July Band Concert Followed by City of Birmingham Fireworks

Where: Bartow Arena Park



Details: Band concert by the UAB Summer Band.  This large group of carefully auditioned and selected student and professional musicians is an outstanding concert band.  Please bring your own blanket or chairs.   SEO people will assemble to the right of the dragon statue (as you face the band) right where the grass ends and the concrete floor leading to the entrance to the arena begins.  Look for the Southeastern Outings signs.  When the concert ends, conveniently enjoy clearly viewing the Birmingham City Fireworks from the picnic area.  Well-behaved children, but no dogs, are welcome.

Reservations: Not required

Info: Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or 205/631-4680


JULY 4, THURSDAY, After the Concert and Fireworks
Potluck Dessert Get-Together

Where: Bartow Arena Park


Details: Southeastern Outings people will stay at the Bartow Arena Park for a while after the fireworks are concluded, avoiding all the exiting traffic congestion.  Then we will enjoy good company and food.  You are encouraged to invite one or several guests to come with you since this event is one of the best SEO events for introducing yourself (if you are not already a member) and your friends to the group.  Please bring a small dessert with you to share with the group.  SEO will provide a table to set out desserts plus plates, napkins, forks and spoons.  We suggest you also bring your own drink (no alcohol, please) with you.

Well-behaved children, but no dogs, are welcome. 

No Charge

Reservations:  Not required

Info: Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or 205/631-4680


JULY 6, SATURDAY, Meet 9:45 a.m.
Canoe and Kayak Outing, Big Wills Creek near Gadsden, Alabama. 
Details: This will be Southeastern Outings’ seventh canoe and kayak 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 or one person sit-upon plastic kayaks and paddles from Big Wills Outfitters.  Rental fees include 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 July 6 at 256/438-7172 to reserve your boat.  Tell the outfitter you are boating with Southeastern Outings. 

Please note that the outfitter has only 7 canoes and 57one-person sit-upon kayaks and 4 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 July 6, 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 in the picnic pavilion at the outfitter’s.  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, stopping as often as we want to.

Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 10 and over welcome.

After the canoe and kayak trip we are planning to go to a restaurant in Gadsden for dinner.  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 seoutings@bellsouth.net 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.

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 Canoe Trips below.

Info. and trip leader: If you have further questions, please call or email Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or 205/631-4680. 


JULY 13, SATURDAY, Meet 9:45 a.m.
Easy River Float, Picnic, Swim, Short, Moderate Dayhike

Where: Locust Fork from Swann Bridge to Powell Falls near Cleveland, AL
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 floats 60 inches long for sale for $12 each 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.

JULY 27, SATURDAY, Meet 9:45 a.m.
Kayak/Canoe Trip, Tallapoosa River at Heflin, Alabama

Details: The section we will paddle is relatively easy with no classified rapids.  This is a scenic stretch of river located in a very rural area.  Forty-four SEO people participated in this very popular outing in August, 2011.

Please note that for this trip you may rent one or two-person sit-upon plastic kayaks and paddles or canoes at the take out from Tallapoosa River Outfitters.  Rental fees include life jackets and shuttle service to the put-in.  Also the outfitter will shuttle for a fee all private boats used on this outing.  If you wish to rent a boat from Tallapoosa River Outfitters, please call Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680.  Dan will relay your reservation on to the outfitter.  Please note that the outfitter has only 4 two-person canoes, 19 one-person sit-upon kayaks and 5 tandem (2-person) kayaks for rent, so be sure you call to reserve early.  Once all their boats of one type or the other are reserved for July 27, there will be no more boats of that type available to rent!  Outfitter boat rental charges are $27 for solo kayaks, $47 for tandem kayaks and canoes, and shuttle charge of $12 per boat for owned boats. 

Please see note for canoe trips below for more general information. 

After the canoe and kayak trip we are planning to go to a restaurant on the way back for dinner.  Hot showers are available for $5.00 at a truck stop by Interstate 20.  If you would like to shower, wash up and/or have dinner with us at the restaurant after the canoe trip, please bring a change of clothes and your shower things.

Meet 9:45 a.m. at the Leeds Highway 78 gravel parking lot.  We plan to depart from there at 10:00 a.m.

Reservations Required: You must contact trip leader Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or phone 205/631-4680 if you plan to come on this canoe/kayak trip.  Please advise your name, telephone number, skill level, whether you want to kayak or canoe and whether you are bringing or wish to rent a kayak and whether you need a paddling partner.  You may leave a message on Dan’s voice mail if you wish. 

Info: If you have further questions, please contact Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680 or seoutings@bellsouth.net.

Note for Kayak and Canoe Trips
The kayak and canoe outing listed above is suitable for beginner/novice canoeists and kayakers, but each beginner canoeist must paddle with an experienced canoeist.  Life jackets are required and must be worn.  You are responsible for finding your own boat.  Bring your own boat, borrow one, paddle with a friend, or rent from the outfitter listed.

Two people just showed up for a river trip we had in 2015 without notifying the leader that they were coming.  This created considerable confusion and delay.  The outfitter had to make a second trip from the put in back to his office and bring two more boats to the put in because the total number of people who showed up that morning was two more than the number which the leader had given to the outfitter the day before.  Please don’t let this happen again!

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 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 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 kayak from the outfitter or bringing your own boat
3.    Your name
4.    Your telephone number 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 without making an advance reservation!!
9. And if you have made a reservation to participate and then decide to cancel, please be absolutely sure to call and notify the trip leader at least two hours before the departure time from the meeting place.  Don’t just tell your friend if you intend to cancel!!