SEPTEMBER 7, SATURDAY, Meet 8:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings River Float, Picnic, Swim on the Locust Fork River
in Jefferson County near Morris and Kimberly
We wish to inform you that we have changed the location for
the September 7 river float. The Locust
Fork river float originally scheduled for September 7 from Vaughn’s Bridge to
Dean’s Ferry was moved to August 31.
For September 7 we have scheduled another river float on the Locust Fork
near Morris, Alabama in Jefferson County on a section we have never floated
previously.
Details of the river float on the Locust Fork from a
residence on Bailey Loop Road to another residence on Sharit Dairy Road are in
the announcement below.
Please note that the meeting time and place have
been changed. If you want to come with us to float on the Locust Fork on
Saturday, September 7, which we hope a great many of you do, please arrive at
the Wal-Mart on Odom Road in Gardendale at 8:45 a.m. this coming
Saturday. We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m. Please meet us in the lobby of the Wal-Mart
at the left entrance to the store as you face the front of the store.
Details: Easy river float on the Locust Fork River. Have fun swimming and just sitting in the
pools in the river. Four of us floated this section of the river for the very
first time on Sunday, September 1. The
entire route is breathtakingly beautiful with tall trees lining both banks of
the river for the entire length of this section. There are no houses or buildings visible for the entire
trip. There is only one shallow
spot. The water is otherwise deep and
slow moving.
We will be floating from a
residence on Bailey Loop Road to another residence on Sharit Dairy Road. Please bring a picnic lunch, drink, towel,
sunscreen and something to float on such as an inflatable vinyl float or air
mattress. Swimming tubes and truck tire
tubes would also probably be satisfactory also on this particular outing. But please be sure that people riding in
your tubes have arms long enough to reach into the water to paddle easily with
their hands. There is very little
current on this part of the river. You must
paddle using your hands in order to move yourself and your flotation device
from the start point to the end.
Please see river float note below
for information about floats.
You must be able to swim to
participate in this outing!
You will have to walk through the
woods for about 15 minutes to get to the river to begin the float, and you’ll
have to walk about 15 more minutes up a steep incline at the end to get from
the river to the cars. Well-behaved,
properly supervised children age 9 and up welcome, but parents are responsible
for all risks to their children. Bring
a friend or several if you wish.
We want people to carpool as much
as possible from the meeting place in the morning.
Please meet at 8:45 a.m. in the lobby at the left entrance
of the Wal-Mart on Odom Road in Gardendale at 8:45 a.m. this coming
Saturday. We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m.
Info. and
Leader: Dan Frederick, email seoutings@bellsouth.net or call 205/631-4680
Float Note-Trip leader Dan
Frederick has now sold all of the 60-inch long floats he had for sale, and he
is currently unaware of a source where he can purchase more to sell. This Saturday Dan’s daughter may bring a few
45-inch floats to sell for $10 each.
First come, first served.
We regret that at this time we
have been unable to find a source where we can buy more of the 72-inch or
60-inch canvas-covered floats.
Please note that this is NOT a kayak and canoe trip. We are floating on the river on inflatable,
vinyl canvas surf riders or tubes.
Substantial, fabric-covered,
inflatable, vinyl, rectangular
floats like you use to ride the waves at the Gulf work best. My daughter may also bring some vinyl
tubes which she’ll offer for rent.
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.
DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE
Wal-Mart Super
Center-890 Odum Road,
Gardendale, AL 35071. From Birmingham
take I-65 North to Exit 271, the first Gardendale exit. Drive to the end of the ramp and turn right. Stay in far right lane. When you come to the first stoplight at
intersection with Odom Road, turn right.
Drive to the first traffic light on Odum Road. The Wal-Mart will be on your left after the traffic light
immediately past the Murphy’s service station.
SEPTEMBER 14, SATURDAY, Meet 8:45
a.m.
Canoe and Kayak Trip with Dinner After
Where: Terrapin Creek near Piedmont, Alabama
Details: Please plan
to come on a relaxing kayak and canoe trip on Terrapin Creek in Calhoun County
near Piedmont, Alabama. The section we
will paddle is relatively easy with no classified rapids. This is a scenic stretch of creek located in
a very rural area. Thirty-three
Southeastern Outings people participated in this popular outing in June of
2017.
Please note that for this trip you may rent canoes for $50 each or one
person sit-upon plastic kayaks for $30 each from Terrapin Outdoor Center. Rental fees include shuttle
service, paddles and life jackets. Also
the outfitter will shuttle for a $10 fee per boat all private boats used
on this outing. If you wish to rent a boat from Terrapin
Outdoor Center, please call the Center BEFORE September 14 at 256/447-6666 to
reserve your boat. Please be sure you
tell the Center you are boating with Southeastern Outings.
After the canoe and kayak trip we
are planning to go to a restaurant in Jacksonville for an optional dinner. If you would like to wash up and/or have
dinner with us at the restaurant after the canoe trip, please bring a change of
clothes and a towel. Outfitter has four
changing rooms. Two are changing rooms
only with no toilets or washbowls, and two are restrooms with washbowls,
toilets and running water, but no showers.
Reservations Required: You must email seoutings@bellsouth.net or call
Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680 if you plan to come on this outing. Please advise your name, telephone number,
skill level, whether you are bringing or wish to rent a canoe or kayak and
whether you need a paddling partner.
You may leave a message on Dan’s voice mail if you wish.
If you want to come on the September 14 kayak and canoe trip AND you are
renting a boat from the outfitter at the site of the trip, you are required 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!
And if you decide to meet us at some place other than the meeting place
specified in this announcement, please notify Dan in advance and directly of
this fact.
Meet 8:45 a.m. at Leeds Highway 78 gravel
parking lot. We plan to depart
from there at 9:00 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 further questions,
please call Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680 or email 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 outfitters listed.
Please bring a picnic lunch with
you from home or pick your lunch up BEFORE you arrive at the meeting
place. Please do not make people wait
while you take time to have your lunch prepared after you arrive at the meeting
place at 8:45 a.m. Also please bring
your picnic lunch, something to drink, sunscreen 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 or canoe from the outfitter
or bringing your own kayak or canoe
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 first and last NAMES 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 scheduled departure time from the meeting place. If you have made a reservation and then
don’t show up and don’t cancel ahead of time, you will not be permitted to
participate in any future Southeastern Outings events where reservations
are required.
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 1 ½ hours or more
before the event departure time of this cancellation!
SEPTEMBER 21, SATURDAY
OPEN
Probably kayak and canoe trip to a new location for Southeastern Outings
SEPTEMBER
28, SATURDAY, Hike begins sat 10:00 a.m.; Picnic set up begins at 11:30 a.m.; Kayaking and canoeing begins about 1:30 p.m.
Southeastern Outings Dayhike, Picnic Lunch and then Afternoon Kayak or Canoe Paddle
Southeastern Outings Dayhike, Picnic Lunch and then Afternoon Kayak or Canoe Paddle
Where: Lower
Fishing Lake (now called Beaver Lake), Oak Mountain State Park, located at the
back entrance to the park.
Details: Please
note that due to the predicted uncomfortably high afternoon air
temperature, we have changed the start time of the day hike on September
28 in Oak Mountain State Park to 10:00 a.m. The
first event of the day will be a brief dayhike (about 1 ¼ hours) along
the shore of the upper fishing lake (now called Lunker Lake) in the park
beginning at 10:00 a.m. from the Mallard Pavilion in the park. Hike
departs at 10:00 a.m. from the Mallard Pavilion in the park.
Then boaters, hikers and other Southeastern Outings people and guests will get together at the Mallard Pavilion in the neighborhood of the Flip Side Water Sports office, (FS and formerly the Fishing Center), for a group picnic. Please bring a dish of food to share with the group. Please bring all food items to this picnic in dishes with a cover on them (think “like Tupperware”.) Please do not bring your food in fast food, cardboard or open containers. There are obvious issues with bees, flies and yellow jackets, etc. when setting up food exposed outdoors to nuisance insects.
Then boaters, hikers and other Southeastern Outings people and guests will get together at the Mallard Pavilion in the neighborhood of the Flip Side Water Sports office, (FS and formerly the Fishing Center), for a group picnic. Please bring a dish of food to share with the group. Please bring all food items to this picnic in dishes with a cover on them (think “like Tupperware”.) Please do not bring your food in fast food, cardboard or open containers. There are obvious issues with bees, flies and yellow jackets, etc. when setting up food exposed outdoors to nuisance insects.
You may bring a bag of potato chips, but if you do, you should bring
some more substantial food to share in addition. Please bring also $5/person ($2 seniors and children) park
admission fee, a beverage for yourself and folding lawn chairs if you have
them. Southeastern Outings will furnish
plates, cups, knives, forks, spoons, napkins, and ice. Picnic preparations will begin at 11:30 a.m.
We will begin eating lunch at 12:00 noon.
After lunch you can enjoy boating
on the lower fishing lake. You may
bring your own boat (no charge) or you may rent a canoe from the park by paying
for your rental canoe at the back gate to the park. The park says they have 5 tandem canoes for rent. Two of the canoes each used to have one
broken seat in them. Rental rate for
canoes is $14 per hour. Cash only. No
credit cards accepted. First come,
first served.
FS has available for rent 5 solo
kayaks and 8 stand-up paddleboards.
Rental rate for either is $20 per hour.
Cash or credit cards accepted by FS.
No shuttle is involved in any of
these boating activities. Share an
adventure! Bring a friend.
We’ll launch our boats about 1:30
p.m. at the lake shore.
You are welcome to participate in
the boating or hiking and skip the group picnic; you are welcome to skip the
boating or hiking and come just for the picnic; or, as most people did the
previous five times we have sponsored this outing, you are encouraged to enjoy
the outdoor exercise activities AND the picnic.
Meet at the Mallard Pavilion just downhill from the very far end of the
parking lot which is designated for the FS office near the back entrance to Oak
Mountain State Park
Info: (picnic) Acyenith Alexander 205/529-2253; (boating) Dan
Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or phone 205/631-4680; (hiking) David Shepherd, 205/240-4681
Postponed
SEPTEMBER 29, SUNDAY, Meet 1:45 p.m.
Moderately easy approximately 6 ½-mile dayhike on the Black Creek Trail
in Fultondale and Gardendale, just north of Birmingham
Details: Walk on a rails-to-trails conversion route on an old
railroad right of way. This smooth
trail is wide and level. No hills! This finely-crushed rock surface trail goes
through mostly wooded terrain. Note
that the trail has been extended since we last hiked on it. Our route on September 29 will include both
the previously-hiked section and the new section. So come out to see and experience what the new part looks like!
No motorized vehicles are allowed
on the trail! This outing should be
lots of fun for everyone. Well-behaved,
carefully supervised children age seven and up able to walk 6 ½ miles without
complaining are welcome on this walk.
This outing has consistently been one of our most popular events since
it is easy and close to Birmingham.
Meet 1:45 p.m. at the Black Creek
Park in Fultondale, Alabama. We plan to
depart from there at 2:00 p.m.
