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2012 Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride

September 15-19, 2012 leaving from Chattanooga, Tennessee

In 1838 the Cherokee, Creeks, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and a lot of Seminole Indians were forcibly removed by the US Military under the Indian Removal Act of 1830 from their lands in the Southeastern US to the "Indian Territory" which today is Oklahoma. The suffering and death rate was high among all of the different tribes due to lack of food, supplies, and rampant disease, but the Trail of Tears refers to the path that 4,000 out of the 17,000 Cherokee men, women, and children died during their forced exodus.

The Trail of Tears motorcycle ride commemorates the atrocities of the Indian Removal Act and follows the approximate path of Cherokee Indians from Chattanooga TN to Waterloo AL. The 230 mile ride Trail of Tears bike ride is from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Florence, Alabama and the the extended ride will end in Oklahoma.

The Trail of Tears ride has now grown to over 150,000 riders, making it the largest organized motorcycle ride in the world.

Native American scholarships, other educational activities, and expenses connected with the ride, are funded from the proceeds of merchandise acquisitions, donations from sponsors, and vendor fees from the powwow held at the end of the main ride from Chattanooga to McFarland Park in Florence, AL.

2012 Main Ride Schedule

We will ride "Rain or Shine" Always on the 3rd Saturday of Sept

Meet on Riverfront Parkway – Chattanooga, TN.

Leave 8am EST (West on Martin Luther King Blvd. to Riverfront Parkway)

CMA will provide free coffee & snacks while they last.

Please join the ride at the designated stops, do not try to jump into a gap while the ride is moving.

Fayetteville Junior High School, Wilson Parkway (ON THE BYPASS.)
GAS, LUNCH AND REST STOP..................... Fayetteville, TN (app. 100 miles) Arrive app. 10:00am CST
McFARLAND PARK
SATURDAY'S RIDE END.................................Florence, AL (app. 98 miles) Arrive Approx. 2:30pm CST

Total Mileage of ride approx. 200 miles.
Free 3 Day POW Wow, Fri-Sat-Sun Florence, AL, McFarland Park
Starting Friday at 1:00 pm

(END OF SATURDAY'S OFFICIAL RIDE IS IN FLORENCE AT McFARLAND PARK)

Safe Places to join the end of the ride. We will have a rescue vehicle at the end of the ride, that will be aware of individuals wishing to join the group. He will back off and allow bikes to enter, AT THE REAR ONLY! The following place are the only allowed places.

    Jasper - Ingle's Parking Lot
    Tracy City - Empty Lot across from the BP and Dollar Store
    Monteagle - Mountain Outfitters Parking lot
    Winchester - Sharp Shoppers Grocery Store
    Lawrenceburg - Story and Lee Furniture Store does not wish for us to use their parking lot. We are looking for another location.
    Native Americans who ride their motorcycles to Florence, see Ellen Pittman at POW WOW arena for recognition.

Please respect the customs and laws of the Town of Florence.


Sunday, September 16 - 400 miles Full day's ride. Be prepared with full tank, water, & snacks. Ride will be escorted where manpower is available. Riding at speed limits.
            

Meet at Foster's Harley Davidson - Tuscumbia
5995 Hwy. 72 West, Tuscumbia     Depart 8 a.m. CST     
Stop # 1 - Corinth, MS. Harper Rd Shopping Ctr.
CMA Trinity Riders will provide free coffee & snacks.     Leave 9:30 a.m. CST     50+/- Miles
Stop # 2 - Senatobia, MS. Gas stop.     Leave 12 noon CST     95+/- miles
Stop # 3 - Helena, AR. Lunch stop.     Leave 2 p.m. CST     53+/- Miles
Stop # 4 - Pine Bluff, AR. Gas stop.     Leave 4:30 p.m. CST     115+/- Miles
Stop # 5 - Hot Springs, AR.     Overnight stop     66+/- Miles

Monday, September 17 - 270 miles Meet at Oaklawn Park Racetrack Parking Lot. Central Avenue. Have full tank of gas and full stomach. Leave 9 a.m. CST

Stop # 1 - Heavener, OK. 125 miles. KP's Quik Mart. One hour Lunch and Gas stop.

Arrive Tahlequah, OK. 3:30 p.m. CST - 145 miles. Tour Cherokee Heritage Center.

MOTELS: Ask for Trail of Tears rooms.

Hot Springs, AR
Host - Best Western Winners Circle Inn
2520 Central Avenue - 1-800-643-8722

Hot Springs, AR
Host - Clarion Resort
4813 Central Ave - 1-800-432-5145
Bar and Grill.... Say Trail of Tears

Tahlequah, OK
Host - Best Western Tahlequah Inn.... Say Trail of Tears
3296 South Muskogee Avenue - 1-918-458-1818
(41 rooms available)

Comfort Inns and Suites
101Reasor Street - 1-918-431-0600
(58 rooms available)

The Cherokee Heritage Center is a museum in Tahlequah dedicated to Cherokee history, art, and culture. Please visit the Heritage web site at www.cherokeeheritage.org for more information about the area.


All Routes subject to change without notice.

NO REGISTRATION & NO FEES TO RIDE

Ride At Your Own Risk

For more info visit:  http://trailoftears-remembrance.org/

If you have a comment or additional information about this motorcycle event, please post it below.