TRAIL OF TEARS SCHEDULE
Friday, June 7, 2013
Leave MD and VA and drive to New Echota, GA.
Stay in Calhoun in preparation for the opening ceremony on Saturday morning.
Saturday, June 8
Have the "beginning ceremony." Tour historic sites in Calhoun and nearby, possibly visit John Ross' home.
Leave Calhoun for Chattanooga. (48.21 miles, 48 minutes to Chattanooga)
Stay overnight in Chattanooga.
Sunday, June 9
Visit historic sites in Chattanooga;
Travel on to Pulaski, TN (127 miles, 2 hrs. 26 minutes). Tentative visit scheduled.
Drive to Nashville and stay overnight in Nashville with Cherokee friend.
Monday, June 10
Leave Nashville, drive to Bolivar, TN (123.67 miles, 2 hrs. 38 minutes).
Then travel on to Bartlett, TN (near Memphis) (52.73 miles, 1 hr. 6 minutes).
Stay at 2nd Chickasaw Bluff Center which is 35 miles from Randolph, TN
Tuesday, June 11
Tour Memphis area to see historic sites from the Trail of Tears.
Stay overnight one more night at the Bluff.
Wednesday, June 12
Leave in the morning, drive to Marion, Arkansas (12.64 miles, 16 minutes).
Spend time in Marion. Walk the trail here.
Drive on to Little Rock, AR (130.37 miles, 2 hrs to Little Rock).
We will probably stay in John Jackson's home in Little Rock.
Thursday, June 13
Travel from Little Rock to Fort Smith, Arkansas (158.34 miles, 2 hrs. 33 minutes). Travel to Van Buren, Fort Coffee, and Sequoyah's Cabin.
Stay at a campground overnight in one of these places.
Friday, June 14
Leave Fort Smith National Historic Site (or wherever we end up the night before) and travel to Tahlequah, OK (69.55 miles, 1 hr. 28 min.).
Sleep in Tahlequah. Probably in a motel, to be decided soon which one.
Chief George and Eleanor Akeen will come and stay in a hotel also to prepare for the Closing Ceremony the next morning.
Saturday, June 15
9AM Closing Ceremony. We will start when all who are meant to be present are there.
Ending ceremony of Trail of Tears Prayer Journey
Celebrate with all people gathered!
Travel to El Reno, OK area to prepare for Father's Day Pow Wow the next day (194.79 miles--3 hrs. 15 minutes to El Reno, OK.)
Evening: BBQ at Rev. Marilyn Kotulek's home in Oklahoma City.
Stay overnight at Rev. Kotulek's or other homes in preparation for next day PowWow.
Sunday, June 16
Some people will help prepare for the PowWow, or
Some will go sightseeing with Rev. Kotulek, or
Some will go somewhere else and do something else
Annual Father's Day Pow Wow Honoring Chief George Akeen begins at 2pm.
Attend Pow Wow.
Stay overnight one more night, Oklahoma Family members' homes being organized by Jun Orikasa, leader in the Oklahoma community.
Monday, June 17
After goodbyes, hugs, etc., leave for home, some by plane, some by car and van.
Figure out how to get everyone home safely!
