Event: Gadsden First Friday Paddle Weekend
Time: Beginning Friday, June 1 at 5:00 p.m.
Event Type: Educational event
Location: Nickie's Landing on the Coosa River
Cost: $50
Event Website: www.alabamascenicrivertrail.com
Sponsor: Alabama Scenic River Trails
Contact: Linda Vice asrttreasurer@gmail.com
Info: Fun and food in this rural-to-urban paddle showcasing the best of this great river city!

Gather and camp at spacious Nickie’s Landing on the banks of the Coosa on Friday, June 1. Shuttle provided to the Gadsden First Friday events from 5:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. First Friday turns Gadsden’s downtown into a beehive of activity, bursting with energy, people, arts and crafts, fun things to do, food vendors, six blocks of frolic, hundreds of classic cars and mega bargains, too. Any participant signed up for the trip will be eligible for a TWENTY FIVE PERCENT Discount at Coosa Outfitters in Downtown that night. Attend a concert from 9:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. Anyone interested in quieter activities or arriving late can learn square dancing from Nickie at the campsite. The campsite will have our two warm showers, and has a great fire ring, superb flat grassy camp area, and has two water spigots. Portable toilets will be set up at this primitive private campground.

Saturday will open with Coffee and Breakfast served at Nickie’s. There will an early morning transfer to Hokes Bluff Landing. Your vehicles will remain safe at Nickie’s Landing. We’ll depart Hokes Bluff Ferry at 9 a.m. and enjoy a box lunch on the water. We’ll paddle to the Fish Market Restaurant in Gadsden, followed by a full moon paddle, then retire to 759 Park, the city’s downtown campground on the river.

Sunday breakfast we’ll be on our own in any of the nearby eateries We’ll depart 759 Park and shuttle to Big Wills Creek and paddle to Jim Martin Wildlife Park with hundreds of feet of wood walkways over water and island to island, and a variety of birds. Mid afternoon, we’ll be back at 759 Park to load up for transfer back to Nickie’s Landing and our vehicles.
• Daily mileage: 2/4/8 miles depending on choice
• Meals: First Friday smorgasbord, Camp breakfast, 2 box lunches, restaurant, self dining
• Camping: Included
• Cost: Non ASRT members pay $50. ASRT members pay $35. ACA members waive the $5 personal insurance component that non-ACA members must pay, regardless of ASRT membership or other discounts.

Participants receive a T-shirt!

Anyone wishing to stay for Gadsden’s RiverFest which will be next weekend may camp at Nickie's. Anyone who has a non-paddler with them can call and get a spot at the very nice RV camp 200 feet from 759 Park. A Hampton Inn is nearby