Southeastern Outings Kayak and Canoe Trip on Terrapin Creek near Piedmont, Alabama

Please plan to come on a relaxing 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 on June 24, 2017.

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.

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 22 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 Gadsden 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 and two 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.  Please do not just show up for this outing at the meeting place without making an advance reservation with Dan Frederick!  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.

Please come to paddle this beautiful section of river with us on September 22.

Depart at 9:00 a.m. from Applebee’s Restaurant, Trussville.   For more essential information about this trip, please see Note for Canoe Trips at the end of this announcement.

Info: If you have further questions, please call Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680

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.

If you want to come on an 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 the BOTH the outfitter to reserve your boat AND ALSO contact the trip leader, too, and notify him/her that you are coming!  No exceptions!  No ifs, ands or buts!

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 and complete change of clothes including underwear. If you get wet during the day and the water is cold, just slip off back into the woods and change into your dry clothes.  You’ll be very grateful that you brought them with you.  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 canoe if you don’t already have it attached to your own canoe or especially if you are renting a canoe.  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:

-Whether you want to kayak or canoe
-Whether you are renting a boat from the outfitter or bringing your own boat
-Your name
-Your telephone number or email address
-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 are canoeing, please give your skill level.
-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.
-Please do NOT just show up at the meeting place without making an advance reservation!!
-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!!

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE

Applebee’s Restaurant Trussville (coming from Birmingham)—4711 Norrell Drive, Trussville, AL 35173. I-59 North to Exit #141 (Chalkville Mountain Road Exit). Turn right at end of exit ramp. Drive to first stoplight and turn left. Applebee’s Restaurant is directly behind the McDonald’s on Chalkville Mountain Road.

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 events during calendar year 2017 for an average of 7 fun events per month.  We enjoy the outdoors in all seasons throughout the year.  Fifteen  people on average have participated in each outing since January 1, 2018.

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.