_Day 5 - 19 June - 269 miles
Trail of Tears
_The Road
There is an annual Trail of Tears motorcycle ride, that leaves out of Chattenooga west through Fayetteville TN and on into Florence AL. We took that route east since neither I nor the Ranger at the Trace Visitor Center could pull up NPS info. We rode the miles today, with the sky appropriately crying. Although our official stops were on other days, they are noted here. The Parks While some stops were marked National Historic Trail, others bore only the Seal of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. Some displayed both. Junaluska deserted the Trail of Tears leading about 50 People. Captured and sent to Oklahoma, he walked back to North Carolina. Sequoyah developed the Cherokee syllabary, gifting the People the means to write in their own language. Brainerd Mission was dedicated to the education and Christianization of the Native People. Lodging Thankfully, we had found good food and friendly people at the Oakland Café, not far from Florence AL. It helped sustain us through the wet and chill until we got to MontEagle and decided to get a room for the night at the Regency Inn. Hot showers and dry beds were most welcome! |