Southeastern Outings Kayak and Canoe Trip on Big Wills Creek near Gadsdeen, Alabama

JUNE 17, SATURDAY, Meet 9:45 a.m.

Southeastern Outings Kayak and Canoe Outing, Big Wills Creek near Gadsden, Alabama. 

Details: This will be Southeastern Outings’ fourteenth kayak and canoe 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.

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

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

AND

https://photos.app.goo.gl/aVJwHx3ftnehkZk12

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

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 and one or two-person (tandem) sit-upon plastic kayaks and paddles from Big Wills Outfitters.

Here is the schedule of outfitter charges:

solo kayaks each $30
canoes and tandem kayaks $50 each
shuttle fee per boat for owned rather than rented boats $10

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 Saturday, June 17 at 256/538-3226 to reserve your boat.  Tell the outfitter you are boating with Southeastern Outings.  Please note that the outfitter has only 5 canoes and 57 one-person sit-upon kayaks and 5 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 June 17, 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 area 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 hopefully planning to go to a restaurant in Gadsden for dinner.  Our going to dinner depends on what time we finish boating.  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 southeasternoutings@gmail.com 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.

If you want to come on the June 17 kayak and canoe trip AND you are renting a boat from the outfitter at the site of the trip, you are required in this instance 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!  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 Kayak and Canoe Trips below.

Info. and trip leader: If you have questions or would like additional information about this outing, please call Dan Frederick 205/631-4680 or email southeasternoutings@gmail.com.

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 the outfitter listed above.

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 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 road you come to on the left when you are on Chalkville Mountain Road. This is immediately after you pass a Texaco gas station on your left and a Shell gas station on your right.  Turn left there onto Norrell Drive.  Applebee’s Restaurant is on Norrell Drive directly behind the McDonald’s which faces Chalkville Mountain Road at the far left corner of that intersection.  There is no longer a stoplight at this intersection.

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 over 250 members.  We scheduled eighty-seven events during calendar year 2022 for an average of 7 fun events per month.  We enjoy the outdoors in all seasons throughout the year.

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 southeasternoutings@gmail.com 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 our upcoming outings scheduled plus some brief, general information about Southeastern Outings, a membership application and 1500 lovely photographs from most of our outings.

Thank you.