September 2019 Activities

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

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. 

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.

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

August 2019 Activities









CANCELLED -  LOW WATER LEVEL
AUGUST 3, 2019, Meet 10:15 a.m.
Tube Float #2
Tallapoosa River at Heflin

Details:  Southeastern Outings is very pleased to once again offer the opportunity to go tube floating.

We just identified last summer a new tube floating outfitter on the Tallapoosa River at Heflin.  Tallapoosa River Outfitters has rented kayaks to SEO for many years, and now they also rent tubes.

Join friendly folks on a relaxing, lazy summer day tube float.  Everyone is cordially invited on this real fun event.  The float will be on the Tallapoosa River near Heflin, Alabama.

We will eat our picnic lunches by the river when we arrive at the outfitters.  Then we will float on the river for about two to three hours.  The outfitter will put us on the river upriver from his place, and you will float down river and take out at the outfitter’s place.  Then you can play in the river at the end of the float if you wish, and/or just lie out and relax or get in your car and leave after finishing the tube float. 

Please bring picnic lunch, drink, sunscreen, towel and dry clothes in the car to change into for the ride back home.  Wear old shorts or a swim suit and substantial, snug fitting footwear you don't mind getting wet and dirty.  Old sneakers usually work well.  Bare feet, flip-flops, slip-ons and thin-soled “beach shoes” are not acceptable!

The usual charge for tube rentals is $15 per tube.  However, if we bring ten or more people in our group, the outfitter will charge us only $10 per tube, so please bring your family and friends with you.  Please come on this outing yourself and bring others with you to help us have over ten people in our group so that we are eligible for the discount.
      
Tube rental charge covers tube rental, transportation upriver to put-in point, use of a life jacket and use of picnic area and swimming area in river after lunch.  All participants are required to rent tubes from the outfitter for the tube float itself, no exceptions.  Please do NOT bring your own tube!

Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 7 and older able to handle themselves in a tube for two to three hours on moving water are welcome and encouraged to come.  Parents are advised of risks of wading and swimming in sometimes deep water, and parents are responsible for all risks to their children. 

Please meet at the Leeds Highway 78 gravel parking lot no later than 10:15 a.m.   We plan to depart promptly from there at 10:30 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 parking lot.  If you are not at the meeting place at the designated departure time, you will be on your own at the tube float.  Please be on time ready to go at the meeting place! 

Please eat breakfast before you arrive at the meeting place, and come with a full tank of gas if you intend to drive.

After the tube float and depending on the time we finish, we may go to a restaurant in Oxford for an optional dinner.  If you would like to wash up and/or have dinner with us at the restaurant after the tube float, please bring a change of clothes and a towel.  Outfitter has a Porta Potty where you can change.  Better than that, 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 tube float, please bring a change of clothes and your shower things.

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 and telephone number.  You may leave a message on Dan’s answering machine or voice mail if you wish.  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”.

If you have made a reservation to participate and then decide to cancel, please be absolutely sure to call and notify the trip leader.  Don’t just tell your friend if you intend to cancel!!         

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.

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


AUGUST 10, SATURDAY, Meet 8:45 a.m.
River Beach Party, Swim and Picnic at Barton’s Beach in Perry County, Alabama
Details: Enjoy a beach party on a beautiful, fine-grained sand beach in Alabama without having to endure the long drive to and from the Gulf of Mexico.  The area is an extensive sand beach on the Lower Cahaba River in Perry County next to the Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Laboratory (formerly the Marion Fish Hatchery) and Perry Lakes Park near Marion, Alabama.  The scenery is spectacular.  The floodplain broadens and creates areas of bottomland hardwood forests, oxbow lakes and extensive sand and gravel bars.

Please bring swimsuit, towel, picnic lunch and drink with you.  Wading shoes with substantial soles are recommended.  You may bring whatever flotation device you wish or you may purchase floats from Southeastern Outings when we arrive at Perry Lakes Park adjacent to Barton’s Beach.  See float note below for information about acquiring floats.  Dan will bring float air pump.  Restrooms are available at Perry Lakes County Park where we’ll park our cars.  The hike to Barton’s Beach is easy since the terrain is level and the walk is all on trails.

We will also offer an optional opportunity to climb on stairs to the top of the Perry Lakes Park viewing tower, a rebuilt fire tower with gorgeous views high above the tallest treetops in the area.       

Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 7 and older able to swim are welcome, but parents are responsible for all risks to their children.  All participants must be able to swim to come on this outing!

Optional dinner following our day of sunning and swimming. 

Meet 8:45 a.m. at the McDonald’s Galleria.  We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m.

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 really well on this outing.  Trip leader Dan Frederick has 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 72-inch canvas-covered floats.  Please pay either with exact change or a check made out to SEO.  First come, first served.


AUGUST 17, SATURDAY, Meet 8:45 a.m.

Short Dayhike and Glorious Swim in the huge pool at the bottom of the 102-foot-high DeSoto Falls in DeSoto State Park


Details: Strenuous walk through the woods and down a short, but very steep hill in DeSoto State Park to the huge pool which many of you have seen from above when at DeSoto Falls.  We’ll be swimming and playing for most of the day in this pool at the bottom of the waterfall which is in the West Fork of Little River.  You can also walk and play in the section of the river that flows out from the pool.  It takes only 20 minutes to walk from where we’ll park our cars to the water. All but the last 75 feet or so is simple walking on fairly level ground. BUT the last 75 feet are quite strenuous, requiring some rock, root and rope climbing. So we are rating the hiking portion of this outing as strenuous.  Please note that we will use a thick, very sturdy rope at two places to go down to the waterfall and at the same two places going up, also.  Your feet will always be on the ground.  You will not be dangling from a rope without having your feet on the ground.  But if you are queasy about this aspect of the walk in and out, please do not come on this trip.

You must be able to swim to participate in this outing!  Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 8 and up welcome, but parents are responsible for all risks to their children. 

Note-To view photos of what we will see on this trip, please click on this link:


Please be sure to click on the link and view the photographs.

After our swim and float, we’ll walk less than one mile back to the cars and then go for showers and an optional dinner. 

Please bring picnic lunch, water, swimsuit, river shoes and any kind of a flotation device you wish.  See float note below for information about acquiring floats. You are required to carry your flotation devices deflated for the walk in and out from the pool.  Dan Frederick will bring his float pump to pump up and deflate floats at the edge of the pool when we get there. 

Hot showers for $2.00 per person are available before dinner.  Please bring shower things and change of clothes if you wish to clean up and change for dinner.  Meet 8:45 a.m. at the Applebee’s Restaurant Trussville.  We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m.,  or you may meet the group at 10:30 a.m. in the lobby of the DeSoto Park Lodge where we will stop to use the restrooms before we begin the short drive from there to the start point of our walk.  Please email me at seoutings@bellsouth.net if you would like me to email to you driving directions to the Lodge. 

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 well on this outing.  Trip leader Dan Frederick has floats 60 inches long for $12 each for sale ONLY at the start of outings Dan attends.  We regret that we are no longer able to find the longer, 72-inch floats for sale anywhere.  Please pay either with exact change or a check made out to SEO.  First come, first served.

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE
Applebee’s Restaurant Trussville (coming from Birmingham)—4711 Norrell Drive, Trussville, AL 35173.  Take I-59 North to Exit #141 (Chalkville Mountain Road Exit).  Exit I-59 at Exit #141.  Drive to traffic light at far end of the I-59 interstate exit ramp.  This is at intersection of the exit ramp and Chalkville Mountain Road. Turn right at the traffic light at the far end of exit ramp.  Drive to first stoplight you come to on Chalkville Mountain Road and turn left.  Applebee’s Restaurant is on Norrell Drive directly behind the McDonald’s (currently under renovation construction) which faces Chalkville Mountain Road.


AUGUST 24, SATURDAY, Meet 8:15 a.m.
Moderately Strenuous Dayhike and Creekwade in Collier Creek, Bankhead Forest


Details: This is one of the prettiest creeks in the Bankhead Forest.  There was even a special magazine article about its beauty!  We hope to see at least six waterfalls running on this outing if we are lucky.  Collier Creek is located in a heavily forested area with lots of hemlock trees.

Participants on this hike will be expected to be able and willing to walk at least 4 ½ miles off trail over rugged terrain including wading 2 miles in two creeks, portions of which may sometimes be knee deep, wear hiking boots and long pants to hike through the woods to and from the creek, and bring and wear old shorts or swim suit and wading shoes for the creek wade.  Sturdy foot protection you don’t mind getting wet and dirty is required to wade in the creeks.  Old sneakers work well.  Bare feet, flip-flops, loose slip-ons and thin-soled “beach shoes” are not acceptable!  Also please do bring a large plastic bag with twist tie or Ziploc in which to put your wet shoes and a hand towel to dry your feet before putting your socks and hiking boots back on for the walk out.  You are strongly encouraged to bring a hiking stick or hiking poles (preferably two of them) with you on this outing for use when you are wading in the creek.  The creek bottom is rocky and uneven.  Poles help you keep your balance and aid in preventing falls.  Also please bring a towel, your picnic lunch and at least a quart of drinking water.  Please come only if you are willing to get wet!

Enjoy an adventure.  Bring a friend.  Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 9 and over welcome.  After the outing we are planning to go to a restaurant for an optional dinner.  You can shower and change clothes at a campground a few miles from the restaurant.  If you would like to shower and/or clean up and have dinner with us at the restaurant, please bring a change of clothes for dinner and your shower things.  No charge to use the campground rest room just to wash up and change clothes.  If you wish to shower, please bring $2.00 exact change cash for shower fee and be sure you give your shower fee to the trip leader on August 24 to forward to the campground owner!.

Meet 8:15 at the Hayden/Corner Park and Ride or at 9:00 a.m. at the Mile 300 Rest Area on I-65 just south of Cullman, Alabama.  We plan to depart from the Park and Ride at 8:30 a.m.  Please note that the group will NOT be meeting at Double Springs at all on this outing.  This outing is in the eastern section of the Bankhead National Forest and not near Double Springs or the Sipsey Wilderness.

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


We regret that we have had to cancel the Southeastern Outings tube float on the Tallapoosa River at Heflin scheduled for this coming, Saturday, August 31.  The water level in the river is too low to comfortably undertake this outing.  Also the water level is below the minimum required by the outfitter to put tubes on that river.  However, I and probably many of you receiving this notice want desperately to do something in the outdoors this weekend which enables us to get wet in cool water.

Therefore we have decided to substitute a river float in the Locust Fork River near the towns of County Line and Trafford relatively close to Warrior instead of our originally-planned tube float. 

Details of the river float on the Locust Fork from Vaughn’s Bridge to the site of the former Dean’s Ferry Bridge 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, which we hope a great many of you do, please arrive at the Hayden/Corner Park and Ride parking lot 8:45 a.m. this coming Saturday.  We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m.

AUGUST 31, SATURDAY, Meet 8:45 a.m.
River Float, Picnic, Swim on the Locust Fork River in Blount County near County Line and Trafford
 


Details: Easy river float on the Locust Fork River.  Have fun swimming and just sitting in the pools in the river. We will be floating from Vaughn’s Bridge (also called Blaylok Bridge) to the location of the previous Dean’s Ferry Bridge.  Please bring a picnic lunch, drink, towel, sunscreen and something to float on such as an inflatable vinyl float or air mattress.  Please see river float note below for information about floats.  You must be able to swim to participate in this outing!

Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 7 and up welcome, but parents are responsible for all risks to their children.  Bring a friend or several if you wish.

Note-To view photos of what we will see on this trip, please click on this link:


Please be sure to click on the link and view the photographs.

Because parking at the take out is available for only 3 or so vehicles, we want people to carpool as much as possible from the meeting place in the morning.

Meet at 8:45 a.m. at the Hayden/Corner Park and Ride.  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 60-inch long floats for sale at $12 each ONLY at the start of outings Dan attends.  Please pay either with exact change or a check made out to SEO.  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 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.  Substantial, fabric-covered, inflatable, vinyl, rectangular floats like you use to ride the waves at the Gulf work best. 

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
Hayden/Corner Park and Ride—171 State Highway 160, Warrior, AL 35180. Exit 284 off I-65 North, take right on AL 160 at end of exit ramp, immediate right on U.S. 31 and then enter fenced parking lot on right.