Trail of Tears ride to stop in Madison
Motorcyclists will band together this weekend to honor American Indians who were removed from their homelands following the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
On Saturday, the 19th annual Trail of Tears of Commemoration and Motorcycle Ride will start in Bridgeport, Ala. and end in Waterloo, Ala.
Riders will leave Bridgeport at 8 a.m., stop for lunch in Madison, and arrive in Waterloo around 1:30 p.m.
The Trail of Tears ride will enter Madison County on U.S. Highway 72 East at Gurley between 9:20 and 9:40 a.m. and continue west into Huntsville between 9:45 and 10:15 a.m. Then the ride will travel onto Interstate 565 and continue westbound until it at Exit 13 and travels west on Madison Boulevard.
Riders should begin arriving at the Old Time Pottery shopping center on Madison Boulevard between 10:20 and 10:30 a.m. The riders will leave the shopping center at 11:30 a.m. and travel west on Madison Boulevard, turn right to travel north on County Line Road and then turn left to travel west on U.S. Highway 72 West to Athens and on to Florence and Waterloo.
On Friday, the Five Feathers Motorcycle Rally will be held from 5:30-10:30 p.m. in the Old Time Pottery parking lot at 9076 Madison Blvd. The rally will include games, a custom bike show, live music and other festivities.
The Trail of Tears Kickoff Ride will start in Ross’ Landing in Chattanooga, Tenn. on Friday and travel to Bridgeport. Riders will gather at Riverfront Drive near the Tennessee Aquarium at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time and leave at 1 p.m. Eastern time. Riders will be escorted by police upon reaching the Alabama State Line near Bridgeport.
For more information, visit http://al-tn-trailoftears.net.