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Trail Of Tears Motorcycle Ride Through Madison County Alabama, Northern Alabama And Southern Tennessee

By
Real Estate Agent with Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL

Trail Of Tears Motorcycle Ride Through Madison County Alabama, Northern Alabama And Southern Tennessee

 Enacted in 1830 by then president Andrew Jackson as the Indian Removal Act, was the forced relocation of five Native American Indian Nations or Tribes.  The Trail of Tears now commemorates the route and lives lost through that arduous journey.  The Creek Indians of Alabama, Choctaw of Mississippi, Cherokee of North Carolina, Seminole of Florida and the Chickasaw of Northeast Mississippi were relocated to what was called at the time Indian Territory and would later be Oklahoma.  Estimates of Native Americans lives lost because of starvation, disease and cold are as high as 6,500 lives lost.

There are two planned routes; One starting in Chattanooga, traveling through southern Tennessee to Florence Alabama ending at McFarland Park.  On Sunday 19, 2010 the extended ride continues from Tuscumbia Alabama on to Tahlequah Oklahoma.  The other main route begins in Bridgeport AL and ends in Waterloo Alabama traveling through northern Alabama. 

Donations and proceeds from authentic Trail of Tears merchandise sales goes to support Native American studends, scholarships and other educational projects.  As a note to those interested one of the ride groups is also using some money collected to defend against a law suit from another Trail of Tears group.  It's not my intention to comment on that or the nature of the lawsuit, but some funds are for legal costs to be able to continue supporting their scholarship programs...politics seem to find its way into everything. 

Trail of Tears motorcycle ride

I was part of the Trail of Tears Commemorative ride in 2008 and plan to participate this weekend Saturday 18, 2010.  I plan to do a follow up post of the ride with plenty of photos. 

Not on the TOT yet...just stopped in at the office

This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago outside my office...although thoughts of the Trail of Tears ride was heavy on my mind.

Need a good real estate professional in Madison or Huntsville Alabama area, why don't you let me Google that for you!

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Comments (13)

Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Hello Nick and Vegas Bob wants to go, and if I wasn't so busy I probably would!

VB ;)

Sep 16, 2010 04:26 PM
Laura Giannotta
Keller Williams Realty - Atlantic Shore - Little Egg Harbor, NJ
Your Realtor Down the Shore!

I'll be looking forward to the pictures...I hope you have a gorgeous day for the ride!

Sep 17, 2010 12:04 AM
Lee & Pamela St. Peter
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices YSU Realty: (919) 645-2522 - Raleigh, NC
Making Connections to Success in Real Estate

Nick, what a great post about the Trail of Tears.  I love the history behind it that you share.  Good luck with the ride...  Looking forward to the pics...

P.S. - nice chopper!

Sep 17, 2010 02:30 AM
Maria Morton
Platinum Realty - Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Real Estate 816-560-3758

Nick, what a wonderful way to spend the day! Riding a Harley on the Trail of Tears is poetic.

Sep 17, 2010 03:05 AM
C. Bartch
Newark, OH

Hi Nick, when living in N GA my husband and I had a chance to follow a few of the trail markings. We stumbled on the Funk Heritage Center in Waleska GA, it had very large and interesting display of the tools used in the time. The Director of the Center Dr. Joseph Kitchens happened to come into the center and personally gave us a tour, it was the highlight of of our day!

Have fun and be safe on your ride.

Sep 17, 2010 04:34 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Nick, this is the first time that I have heard of this.  That is an interesting story behind the event.  Are you going to participate in the ride?

Sep 17, 2010 11:14 AM
Ellen Caruso
Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty - Glen Head, NY

What was that song "Ride Pappas Ride?" or was it "Ride Sally Ride?" Either way have fun doing it and be safe.

Sep 17, 2010 12:59 PM
Steve and Jan Bachman
RE/MAX Gateway, Reston, Herndon, Ashburn, Sterling, Fairfax - Herndon, VA
Realtors - Northern Virginia

Nick,

In a few years I hope to live the lifestyle you live today! Have fun

Sep 18, 2010 03:36 AM
Dawn A Fabiszak
Private Label Realty ( Denver metro area, Colorado - Aurora, CO
The Dawn of a New Real Estate Experience!

Nick ~ I hope your ride goes wel  with fantasticweather.  Thanks for the history lesson as well.

Sep 18, 2010 01:34 PM
Nick T Pappas
Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL - Huntsville, AL
Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource

Robert-I'm back from the ride now and paying for it...like they say; if you want to generate new business...go on vacation or leave town.

Laura-the post from ride is now up...click here to see it.

Lee & Pamela-thanks...it's really not a chopper, but it is a lot of fun.

Maria-someone probably has already written a song about it.

Cynthia-lucky you getting a personal tour.  I love finding out of the way places like that...think of all we will miss in our lives because we just didn't know it was there.

George-did it...got back early evening...it was fun and hot.

Ellen-either title works for me.

Steve-no you don't...that's only the third or fourth time I've been on my bike this year.  I love to golf, but don't get much chance because of business...although Ed Silva is changing my mind about that as he gets business from hitting the links.  Steve, what I am realizing is that you can't say "in a few years I'll do that", because who knows if we have a few years or not? 

Dawn-there really is a lot more to the story (history) that I think everyone would find interesting.  Thanks and the weather was hot, hot, hot...do you know that the forecasted temp for the first day of fall here in Madison is 98???  Give me a break already!

Sep 18, 2010 05:22 PM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

"That's great news" more business means more money for you to bring to Vegas!

VB ;)

Sep 18, 2010 05:51 PM
Nick T Pappas
Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL - Huntsville, AL
Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource

Robert-and leave in Vegas too...right!  Except that I don't get any of this money...I only get to donate...and ride of course.

Sep 21, 2010 11:39 AM
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Nick - it sounds like an event worthy of your participation ..... it does ones heart good to see others who take the time to do something to benefit some one they likely do not know and will never meet

Sep 22, 2010 04:27 PM