SEO River Float on the Locust Fork River in Blount County, Alabama-DATE CHANGED TO JULY 17, 2021

You are invited to the next most enjoyable Southeastern Outings event this coming Saturday.  It is a free river float on the Locust Fork River near Cleveland, Alabama.

The complete announcement is below.

Easy river float on the Locust Fork River.  Float in the river from Taylor’s Ford through Cornelius Falls and below.  We’ll float downstream to the widest waterfall on the Locust Fork River.  Enjoy eating your picnic lunch sitting on the rocks overlooking the waterfall.  This is the prettiest river float of the five such river floats we have done on the Locust Fork River.  As we float we’ll also view sheer cliffs that rise high above the river.  So enjoy a flowing river, high rock bluffs and a gorgeous waterfall—all along a nearly uninhabited stretch of this river.  Note that we will walk on dry land around the end of the waterfall.  We will NOT float over or through it!

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

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

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

Please bring a picnic lunch, drink, sunscreen and something to float on such as an inflatable vinyl float or air mattress.  See Float Note below for additional information.

Please bring a towel, your picnic lunch and drinking water.  Wear swimsuit and sturdy footwear you don’t mind getting wet and dirty.  Old sneakers work well.  Bare feet, flip-flops, slip-ons and thin-soled “beach shoes” are not acceptable!  You must be able to swim to participate in this outing!

          Have fun swimming in the pools in the river and just sitting in Cornelius Falls.  Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 8 and up able to swim welcome, but parents are responsible for all risks to their children.

Please bring a friend or several if you wish.  Please meet 9:45 a.m. at the Cleveland Chevron.  We plan to depart from there at 10:00 a.m.

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

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE

Cleveland Chevron-36320 AL Highway 79, Cleveland, AL 35049.  From junction of I-59/I-20 and I-65 (malfunction junction) in downtown Birmingham take I-65 North 23.5 miles to Exit 284 marked variously Exit 284, AL Route 160, Hayden/Corner, Park and Ride and Rickwood Caverns.  Turn right at end of exit ramp at Exit 284 and drive on AL 160 17.6 miles all the way to the traffic circle at intersection with AL 79 in Cleveland Alabama.  The Cleveland Chevron, our meeting place, will then be on your far left on the far side of the traffic circle.

River Float Note

Substantial, fabric-covered, inflatable, vinyl, rectangular floats like you use to ride the waves at the Gulf work best.  This year trip leader Dan Frederick finally has 60- inch floats for sale for $15 each ONLY at the start of the river float.  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.

Since we have been unable to locate a source for the 72-inch canvas surf riders for the past 5 or so years, recreational vinyl tubes and truck tire tubes may also be used as your flotation device on this trip.

Dan will provide hand float pumps to pump up your float or tube at the start point of the river float.

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 and your pack should then be tied to your float.

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 about 300 members.  We scheduled forty-six events during the six months ending May 31, 2021 for an average of EIGHT 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 per family or household.  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 most of our outings.

Thank you.