Southeastern Outings Canoe and Kayak Trip on the Elk River near Elkmont, Alabama

Novice canoeists are welcome and may come on this trip, but each one must be partnered with an experienced canoeist in their boat.

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

https://picasaweb.google.com/117487739902236300578/ElkRiverNearElkmont?authuser=0&feat=directlink

AND

https://photos.app.goo.gl/5DrhD42hMQe0wimc2

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

If you want to rent a kayak, please call Fort Hampton Outfitters 256/431-8988 to reserve your rental kayak.  Be sure to identify yourself as coming with Southeastern Outings on June 1.  Please note that the outfitter has no canoes and only 19 one-person sit-upon kayaks, 1 one-person sit in kayak and 6 tandem sit-upon kayaks for rent, so be sure you call to reserve early.  Once all their kayaks are reserved for June 1, there will be no more kayaks available to rent from that outfitter!

If you rent a kayak from this outfitter, the outfitter will take you and your rented boat to the put in and meet you at the take out, so you will never need to transport your rented boat at all.  You may bring your own canoe or kayak on this trip, but you must pay the outfitter to shuttle your privately-owned boat.  Shuttle fee and life jacket are included in rental boat fee for those who rent kayaks from the outfitter.  Please note that this outfitter does not rent canoes at all.  Please see note for canoe trips below for additional important general information as well.

Children age 10 and over welcome.

After the kayak/canoe trip we plan to go for dinner at an excellent restaurant in Athens, Alabama.  If you would like to have dinner with us at the restaurant after the kayak and canoe trip, please bring your things to clean up with and a change of clothes.

Please meet at 8:45 a.m. at the Hayden/Corner Park and Ride.  We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m.

Reservations Required: You must call Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680 or email seoutings@bellsouth.net 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 this SEO kayak and canoe trip AND you are renting a boat from the outfitter at the site of the trip, you are required to call BOTH the outfitter to reserve your boat AND ALSO contact the trip leader, too, and notify him/her that you are coming!

If you are planning to meet the group initially at the outfitter’s instead of at the designated meeting place near Birmingham, please tell Dan Frederick in advance that you are planning to meet the group at the outfitter’s.

Please do not make it necessary for Dan to contact you concerning information which you have already received in this announcement and the notes below.

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

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.

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 or canoe from Big Wills Outfitters.

If you want to come on this SEO kayak and canoe trip AND you are renting a boat from the outfitter, you are required to call the BOTH the outfitter to reserve your boat AND ALSO contact the trip leader, too, and notify him that you are coming! 

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 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 kayak or canoe 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.  Don’t just tell your friend if you intend to cancel!!

Canoe and Kayak Outing Requirements

1. If you make a reservation to participate in a canoe trip and then decide to cancel, please be sure that you notify the trip leader in advance.  On a recent canoe/kayak trip four persons who had made reservations with the leader just didn’t show up without calling to cancel prior to the start of the trip.

2. When the SEO newsletter clearly states that a reservation is required for a canoe/kayak trip, please don’t show up on the trip without making a reservation.  If you are bringing someone or some ones with you on the trip, please be sure to give their name(s) to the trip leader in advance of the trip.  On a recent canoe/kayak trip ten people showed up at the meeting place who were not on the list of those who had called the trip leader in advance.  Persons who just show up without a reservation can easily cause logistical complications and problems with the transportation and/or boat rental arrangements.

1. If you want to be matched with an experienced canoeist or to have the leader find someone with a boat in which you can paddle, please call the trip leader early.  Such matches are made on a first come, first served basis.  Those who call early in the week of the trip are much more likely to be matched than those who wait until the day before the trip to call.

1. If you want to make a reservation to participate in a canoe trip, if you have questions, want more information or want to be matched or to offer a place for a novice canoeist in your boat, please contact the leader.  Don’t contact Dan Frederick unless he is the designated leader of the trip.

1. If you are a beginner canoeist, you must be matched to paddle with an experienced canoeist who knows how to make frequent steering corrections from the back of the boat.  We do not permit two beginner canoeists to paddle in a boat together.

1.  Please do not start paddling downstream until all boats and all people are assembled at the put in and are ready to go.

DESCRIPTION OF SOUTHEASTERN OUTINGS

Do you wish you had friends who share your active lifestyle and enjoyment of outdoor activities?  Then become active with Southeastern Outings (SEO), a nonprofit organization committed and created to serve people who enjoy being active in the outdoors.  The organization plans, organizes and leads outings such as dayhikes, easy kayak and canoe trips, stream and waterfall walks, bicycle rides, lake events and other fun activities to beautiful sites in our natural environment.  From time to time we also sponsor potluck suppers and other socials.  All events and activities of the group are open to the public.  Participating in SEO activities is a splendid, simple way to make congenial new friends who enjoy the outdoors.

NO DOGS OR SMOKING ALLOWED, PLEASE, ON ANY SOUTHEASTERN OUTINGS EVENTS.

The organization currently has 320 members.  We scheduled eighty-two events during calendar year 2018 for an average of 7 fun events per month.  We enjoy the outdoors in all seasons throughout the year.  Thirty-two people on average have participated in each hike during January 1, 2019.

SEO does not charge for participation in any of its outings.  You do not have to be a member to participate in one or two SEO activities.  Dues are only $10.  Please contact Dan Frederick, President, 205-631-4680, or seoutings@bellsouth.net for more information and to obtain three free monthly newsletters with membership application and a complete description of all our outdoor events.

Southeastern Outings now has a website.  Just go to seoutings.org to find announcements of all our upcoming outings scheduled plus some brief, general information about Southeastern Outings, a membership application and 1500 lovely photographs from several of our outings.

Thank you.