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

Please note that we have changed the location for this kayak and canoe trip from Section 1 on the Locust Fork River to Big Wills Creek.  The water level in the Locust Fork is currently far too low to boat on, and it is unlikely that the water level will be above the minimum acceptable level by this coming Saturday.

This will be Southeastern Outings’ ninth canoe and kayak 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 Southeastern Outings people participated in this very popular outing in 2015.

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

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

Please be sure to click on the link 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 or one-person (solo) or two-person (tandem) sit-upon plastic kayaks and paddles from Big Wills Outfitters.

Here is the schedule of outfitter charges:

solo kayak rentals each $30
Canoes and tandem kayak rentals $50 each
shuttle fee per boat for owned rather than rented boats $10

Life jackets, paddles and shuttle fee are included in the rental boat fee for those who rent boats from the outfitter.  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.

If you wish to rent a boat from Big Wills Outfitters, please call the outfitter BEFORE Saturday, August 15 at 256/438-7172 to reserve your boat.  Tell the outfitter you are boating with Southeastern Outings.  Please note that the outfitter has only 7 canoes and 57 one-person sit-upon kayaks and 4 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 August 15, there will be no more boats of that type available to rent! 

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 (this one with running water!), and then eat lunch 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 together down the creek to the take out, stopping as often as we want to.

Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 8 and over welcome.

We will probably go out for dinner after this trip.  If you would like to change into dry clothes for dinner and/or for the ride back home, please bring a change of clothes to be kept in the car.  A changing room and the bathroom are both available for your use at the outfitter’s.

Reservations Required: You must contact Dan Frederick, email seoutings@bellsouth.net 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 August 15 kayak and canoe trip AND you are renting a canoe or kayak from the outfitter at the site of the trip, you are required in this instance to call BOTH the outfitter to reserve your boat AND ALSO contact Dan Frederick the trip leader, to notify him that you are coming!  Please do not just show up for this outing at the meeting place without making an advance reservation!  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 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 Canoe Trips below.

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

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 stoplight you come to on Chalkville Mountain Road and turn left.  Applebee’s Restaurant is on Norrell Drive directly behind the McDonald’s which faces Chalkville Mountain Road.

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 from the outfitter listed.

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 kayak from the outfitter or bringing your own boat (kayak or canoe)
Your name
Your telephone number or email address
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”. If you are also making a boat rental reservation with the outfitter for a guest you are bringing, again please give the first and last NAME(S) of your guest(s).  
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!!
If you have made a reservation to participate and then decide to cancel, please be absolutely sure to call and notify the trip leader 1 ½ hours or more before the event departure time.  Don’t just tell your friend if you intend to cancel!! If you have made a reservation and then don’t show up and don’t cancel with the leader ahead of time, you will not be permitted to participate in any future Southeastern Outings events where reservations are required.

If you have made a reservation for a friend whom you have invited to come on this trip and your friend is subsequently not coming, you must notify the leader of this cancellation  1 ½ hours or more before the event departure time!  No-shows cause considerable logistical complications for the leader and for the outfitter!

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 250 members.  We scheduled eighty-two events during calendar year 2019 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 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.