Southeastern Outings Tube Float on the Cahaba River

Join friendly folks on a relaxing, lazy, summer day tube float.  Everyone is cordially invited on this real fun event.  The float will be on the Cahaba River near Helena and Pea Ridge, Alabama.

Living River, a nonprofit affiliated with the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley, has developed a camp on the Cahaba River.  On August 13 Southeastern Outings people will float on tubes starting from the the end of Boothton Ford in the South section of Cahaba River Park for about 3.0 miles downriver to the upper launch site on the Living River property.  This stretch, which Southeastern Outings is tubing for the first time, is rated moderately easy and without classified rapids.  Along the river we may see wildflowers and we’ll probably stop from time to time to investigate islands and beaches.

The Cahaba River itself – the longest free-flowing river in Alabama – preserves a remarkable and fragile biodiversity, including an incredible variety of freshwater mussels, turtles, snails, and crayfish, as well as more fish species per mile than any other river in North America. The globally significant biodiversity of the Cahaba has been widely recognized by conservation groups and scientists.

Note-To view photos of what we will do on this trip, please click on this link to view photos of a similar tube float outing on another stream:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xYiJrjAhaMhT8sgg7

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

We will eat our picnic lunches by the river when we arrive at the put in point.  Then we will pump up the tubes with car-connected, electric float pumps at the start point of the trip. We’ll run a car shuttle taking most of the cars to the take out point, and then one or two cars will bring the drivers back to the put in.  The put in is immediately adjacent to the parking lot so you will carry your tube only a short distance to the edge of the river.  You will not need to hike through the woods carrying an inflated tube at all.  Then we will float on the river for about two to three hours.

Please bring picnic lunch, drink, sunscreen, towel and dry clothes in the car to change into for the ride back home.  For the tube float itself wear old shorts or a swim suit and substantial, snug fitting footwear you don’t mind getting wet and dirty.  Old sneakers usually work well.  Bare feet, flip-flops, slip-ons and thin-soled “beach shoes” are not acceptable!

Dan’s daughter, Aree Frederick, has 23 tubes to rent for $5 each.  Aree has very kindly reduced the charge for renting her tubes from the $10 per tube rental charge previously announced to the current rate of $5.00 per tube.  Please note that once all of Aree’s tubes are reserved for August 13, there will be no more tubes available to rent!

If you intend to rent a tube, please bring $5.00 exact amount.  For this particular tube float you may bring your own tube if you like since we will not be using a commercial tubing outfitter.  If you bring and use your own tube, there will be no charge at all to participate in the tube float.

You are welcome to bring your family and friends with you.  Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 7 and older able to handle themselves in a tube for two to three hours on moving water are welcome and encouraged to come.  Parents are advised of risks of wading and swimming in sometimes deep water, and parents are responsible for all risks to their children.

Here are some special points to note regarding this outing.

You must be able to swim to participate in this outing.

Reservations are required. You must email seoutings@bellsouth.net or call Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680 to make your reservation by Thursday, August 11 if you plan to come on this outing.  Please advise your name and telephone number and whether you wish to rent a tube or are bringing your own tube.   We are requiring reservations for this outing so that we can avoid having more people wanting to rent tubes than the number of tubes we have available.  You may leave a message on Dan’s answering machine or voice mail if you wish.  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 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!! 

Please do not just show up for this outing at the meeting place without making advance reservations!  And if you decide to meet us at some place (like at the put in point) other than the meeting place specified in this announcement, please notify Dan in advance and directly of this fact.

Please meet at the McDonald’s Galleria parking lot no later than 10:45 a.m.   We plan to depart from there promptly at 11:00 a.m.  Arriving 15 minutes before departure time will allow time to use the restrooms at the McDonald’s, hear announcements concerning the day’s event, and form carpools from the parking lot.  If you are not at the meeting place at the designated departure time, you will be on your own at the tube float.  Please be on time ready to go at the meeting place! 

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

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE

McDonald’s Galleria-1731 Montgomery Highway, Hoover, AL 35244. Parking lot behind the McDonald’s Restaurant across U.S. 31 from the main entrance to the Riverchase Galleria Shopping Mall.

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 200 members.  We have scheduled forty-six fun events for you to enjoy in the first six months of 2022.  This is an average of EIGHT fun outdoor 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.