This will be Southeastern Outings’ fourth 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 SEO people participated in this very popular outing in 2015.

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 sit-upon plastic kayaks and paddles from Big Wills Outfitters.  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 April 29 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 43 one-person sit-upon kayaks and 3 tandem (2-person) kayaks for rent, so be sure you call to reserve early.  Once all their boats of one type or the other are reserved for April 29, 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 pavilion 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 swim and sit in the water to cool off.

Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 10 and over welcome.

          After the canoe and kayak trip we are planning to go to a restaurant in Gadsden for dinner.  If you would like to have dinner with us at the restaurant after the 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 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.

Depart 10:00 a.m. from the Applebee’s in Trussville.  For more essential information about this trip, please see Note for Canoe Trips below.

Info: If you have further questions, please call or email Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or 205/631-4680.  You may leave a message on Dan’s voice mail if you wish.    

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.

When you make your reservation with Dan, 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 with Dan Frederick!! 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!!

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE—If you are renting a boat from the outfitter, you are required to call BOTH the outfitter AND advise Dan Frederick, too, that you are coming.  No exceptions!         

Life jackets are required and must be worn.  You are responsible for finding your own boat.  Bring your own, borrow one, paddle with a friend, or rent from outfitter listed.  Bring in the boat your picnic lunch and something to drink.  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 rope attached to your own canoe or especially if you are renting a canoe.  If you have further questions, please call the trip leader.

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 360 members.  We scheduled eighty-eight events during calendar year 2016 for an average of 7 fun events per month.  We enjoy the outdoors in all seasons throughout the year.  Twenty  people on average have participated in each outing since January 1, 2017.

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.