CHEROKEE TRAIL OF TEARS
MEMORIAL MOTORCYCLE RIDE
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2008 Ride Info

The Cherokee Trail of Tears Memorial Motorcycle Ride starts at Wal Mart Supercenter in Cleveland, TN. Cleveland is located about 25 miles North of Chattanooga, Tn. on I-75. Wal Mart is located East of I-75 Exit 27 at the intersection of Paul Huff Parkway and Hwy 11. There are many historical sites in the area, such as Red Clay State Park, that you may want to visit. Red Clay is where the Cherokee lived from the time they were removed from Georgia until the start of the Trail of Tears. Our ride will follow the National Historic Society's Auto Tour Route of the Trail of Tears as closely as possible. Each day's ride will end at a historic site that will give you a lot of history and knowledge about the Trail of Tears. Each year our ride is held in memory of an individual, event, or something that occurred during the Trail of Tears. This year our ride is being held in memory of all the men, women, and children that suffered, died, and are buried in unmarked graves along the Trail of Tears routes. History remembers only a few names of the vast number that were actually involved from five different Indian Nations.

Saturday, May 24 (Day 1)

On Saturday morning May 24, 8:00 am., we will leave the Wal Mart Supercenter and travel West on Paul Huff Parkway, Hwy 60, Hwy 30, and Hwy 70S approximately 80 miles to Mcminnville, Tn. which is our first fuel stop at Stanton's Exxon. We will then continue on Hwy 70S West for approximately 45 miles to Murfreesboro, Tn. where we will stop for fuel at Wal Mart and lunch at Ryan's. After lunch, we will go West on I-24 and North on Hwy 431 approximately 65 miles to Springfield, Tn. for our next fuel stop at Wal Mart. The last leg of the ride for the day will follow Hwy 431 North and Hwy 41 North approximately 50 miles to the Trail of Tears Commemorative Park in Hopkinsville, Ky where we will stop for the night. Feel free to join in and enjoy any part or all of this day's ride.		  

Sunday, May 25 (Day 2)

Sunday Worship Service will start the day at 7:00 am at the Trail of Tears Park. At 8:30 am. we will begin our day's ride from the Wal Mart parking lot. We will travel North on Hwy 91 and Hwy 1 approximately 65 miles, which includes a ferry ride across the Ohio River, to our first fuel stop at Cave In Rock, Il. We will then travel West on Hwy 146 approximately 70 miles to Anna, Il. for a fuel and lunch stop at Wal Mart. After lunch we will continue West on Hwy 146 and North on Hwy 177 approximately 45 miles to the Missouri State Trail of Tears Park at Cape Girardeau, Mo. where the ride will end. This is a large park of about 2000 acres located where the Cherokee crossed the Mississippi River. They have a very nice Museum with lots of artifacts and programs to learn from and enjoy. Feel free to join in and enjoy any part or all of this day's ride.

Ride Rules

Please follow all rules or you may be ask to leave the ride.

  • Obey all orders of escorting Law Enforcement Officers.
  • Keep up with the group, do not leave large gaps in the line.
  • Stay in the right lane, no passing PLEASE.
  • Helmets are required.
  • No drugs or alcohol allowed.
  • No contact with spectators is permitted, no exceptions(high fives or passing drinks).
  • This is a motorcycles only ride. All other vehicles must follow behind the bike line and trail car(motorhome).
  • Join the ride at the rear of the main bike line. Do not break into a moving bike line and cause an accident.
  • Travel speed will be the posted speed limit or less where conditions dictate.

Ride safe------Have fun------Bring all your friends.