Back in 1994 eight motorcycle riders left Ross Landing in Chattanooga and headed for Alabama to bring attention to the "Trail of Tears". Upon arrival in Alabama they number of riders had grown to 100. The Trail of Tears approximates one of the routes used to remove the Cherokee Indians of North George, North Carolina and Tennessee from the area. The were herded like animals and forced to a reservation in Oklahoma. Soldiers arrived at every Cherokee household forcing them out. In total 17,000 Indians were rounded up. Their treatment was terrible at best and inhumane in most respects. Almost on quarter of them died before reaching the destination. 2008 was the 14th annual ride. The ride has grown from the eight bikes on the original ride to over 120,000 bikes arriving in Alabama this year. For the last four years Chapter 111 has had representation in the ride.

This year a number of 111 members rode to Chattanooga on Friday. Friday's weather was a little discouraging. It looked like the weekend could be a washout. The rains came and came hard. Some rode up early on Friday and had to do so through some hard rain. Other waited until late afternoon. We had to sit for about a half hour and wait for the downpour to stop before heading out. In the end, the rain stopped, we got on the road and only had a light shower before clearing the rain completely. Saturday and Sunday were beautiful and actually got pretty warm before he days ends.

Once everyone arrived in Chattanooga, we got together and headed off to dinner. After some good food at Sticky Fingers we headed back to the hotel. Line up for the ride would start at 5:00 am. It was going to be a long day and we all got to bed.

With the ride leaving at 8:00 sharp we decided to get arrive at the staging area around 7:00 am. So, at 6:30 Saturday morning we met, grabbed a quick cup of coffee and a donut and head to the lineup area. Turns out we should have gotten there a bit earlier. The turnout this year was high and we ended up well back of where we had been the years before.

At 8:00 am the first bikes started pulling out. About thirty minutes later we finally got to start moving. There last bike was probably 20 minutes behind us. Following the same route that they have followed for the last 13 years lead us around Lookout mountain along the Tennessee river. The air was crisp and the view beautiful. The route crossed the river and winds into Alabama basically following US72 headed east.

It is a truly awesome ride. Bikes as far as you can see in front of you and behind you. State Patrol and local county and city police departments escort the ride. All intersections are blocked as the ride rolls through each town. People don't just stop to watch endless line of bikes, they set up chairs, and tents...they sit in the back of pickups, they line the overpasses and they crowd the intersections. It is reported that at points the line of bikes is over 70 miles long. They watch bikes pass by for over an hour.

A little past halfway, in Madison Alabama all riders are forced to stop and take a break. They have food vendors and a few local fast food restaurants available. This not only gives everyone a change to get refreshed, fed and refueled, but more importantly allows them to get everyone gathered back up and keep things under control. Eventually the ride rolls back out and heads to the end point in Florence Alabama.

The ride ends in a huge park. We were well past halfway back and after parking we watched bikes come into the park for another hour or longer. Past years have had reports of 150,000 bikes at the end point. There is food and drink available as well as other vendors. Local Indian tribes provide history and dance and ceremonial exhibitions.

After spending some time in Florence we ride about 50 miles back to the west and stay in Athens Alabama for the night. This year we had a little extra excitement and concern as one of our members got sick and had to pay a visit to the local ER. After several hours of exams and tests, they were finally released but were unable to ride. We left a bike at the hospital and got everyone to the hotel in Athens for some dinner and rest.

We had dinner at a restaurant nearby the hotel. The food was excellent. Everyone was hungry and tired. It gave us a chance to just slow down, discuss the days events and get some food. Darren's birthday would be on Sunday, so we did the birthday thing with the restaurant servers providing him with a sundae and some off-key singing. After everyone else got some dessert (and Daren had a second dessert) we head back to the hotel for some much needed rest..

Sunday morning we got some of the  members on the road and headed back home.  The rest of us headed back to the hospital in Florence to retrieve the bike and then we headed home as well. The ride home was great. The weather was beautiful.  Staying off the interstates availed us some great roads to ride on. In the end, everyone got home safely with some fantastic memories of a very meaningful ride. We are thankful that everyone was able to return and to do so on Sunday with no incidences.

If you haven't done this ride yet, plan to go with us next year. It is one of the most memorable rides you will ever participate in. The actual Trail of Tears was one of the darkest moments in out history in the relationship of the United States and the American Indians. This ride demonstrates our support of the American Indians and our awareness of the horrors perpetrated on them during this part of history.

Representing Chapter 111:

Doug & Teresa Turco
Gary & Maria Kohl
Preston & Stephanie Howard
Steve & Kay Argo
Mitch Argo
Gary & Charity Kohl
Darren Smith