We began our journey today in Tennessee. On the way out of Tennessee we came across the Natchez Trace Parkway. This was a pleasant unexpected stop. In the 1800′s boatmen would float merchandise down the river and then walk back up the Natchez Trace. The 500 mile trip typically took 35 days to walk or 20-25 days on horse! We took some pictures along the parkway and had a picnic lunch.
D&K at the head of the Natchez Trace Pkwy — a 500 mile long parkway from TN to AL
On the Natchez Pkwy
D&K at the Double Arch Bridge at Birdsong Hollow on the Natchez Trace Pkwy.
Soon we crossed over into Kentucky. While driving down a 2 lane highway, we came across the Trail of Tears memorial. This was both educational and sobering. The memorial stands on the spot where chiefs organized food rations for the thousands of Cherokee Indians who were removed from their homes in the 1830′s as a result of the Indian Removal Act. They had to travel 1,200 miles by foot over harsh terrain with very little food and clothing.
Rural farm land stretched for miles as we traveled the 2 lane highways of Kentucky
The Trail of Tears Memorial tells the tale of the Cherokee Indians
At the Trail of Tears memorial
At the Trail of Tears memorial
A touching letter left in a clear bag at the grave markers by a member of the Cherokee Tribe at the Trail of Tears memorial
Looks like fun!
It’s really neat how you can find traces of the Indians all over.
PS-are those all self-timer pictures?
Yep. We have a couple of really neat tripods and we love the 10-second timer!
You guys will have so many awesome frame-able pictures because of a simple tripod!