Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Rides, Rallies, & Events Trail of Tears Ride

Is anyone planning to participate in the Trail of Tears ride in September? They had over 90 thousand bikes last year. If I can get my vacation planned right I plan on going as far as Florence, AL with them as that is just several miles from my brothers home.

90 thousand weekend warriors, no thanks.....

I'd hate to see the domino effect on that one!

There have been as many as 150,000 bikes stretching just over 40 miles. As the leaders were stopping for a break on the southwest corner of Florence, there were still bikes crossing I-65 in Athens, Alabama. The bikers are OK, but the biggest danger is impatient cagers that know about the ride weeks in advance, but are mentally unable to change their route around the outskirts of the towns along the route. It generally is a good ride. All types of bikes are present and each type seem to flock together. Except Mike's favorites - the rental bikes, they are scattered throughout the crowd. The official ride starts in Chattanooga, and ends in Waterloo, Alabama. Then Sunday morning, a small remnant of the ride continues on to Tishomingo, Oklahoma. That last leg is the good part, a relatively small group of dedicated riders really commemorating the plight of our Native Americans.
If we really wanted to commemorate their journey, we should WALK from North Carolina to Oklahoma (but where's the fun in that?).

Trail of Tears Motorcycle Ride

Up here I hadn't heard of the Trail of Tears ride until now. I clicked on the link to the website and read all I could about this most worthy and just ride. I am humbled by the thought and meaning behind this ride and commend everyone from organizers to riders for supporting a great event. Wish I could be there... I really do.

I rode the Trail of Tears ride in 2007 when the pack of bikes was about 60 miles long. It's an unforgettable experience, for sure, but one I don't think I'll repeat...too many bikes with riders of questionable skill for me. For me, that was the most uncomfortable few hours I've spent riding with others; probably exaggerated by the guy next to me who insisted on riding peg to peg at 70 mph.



The staging area at Madison, AL. By the time we joined the main group there were 6000 cycles in this parking lot but the organizers were well co-ordinated and the merging process was very smooth albeit nerve racking.

Hey Ed, any truth to the rumor that if you're ridin' either an Indian Chief, Scout or Warrior motorcycle on this ride that you'll end up gettin' an extra 20% off the price of gas at all participating Shell Stations, and a free roll of quarters for gamblin' at any casinos you might pass along the way???

Or as a close Native American friend of Ben Franklin's used to tell him..."Wampum saved, is wampum earned!"

(that's where that ol' kite-flyin' Ben got the idea for HIS old saying, ya know!!!)

Nah, it's just a danged rumor...all the good casinos are in Mississippi anyway.

Then again, if you can afford a new (or for that matter an original) Indian Motorcycle you can afford lots of Premium go juice.