Tennesse Road trip 2016

 Hello, I am sharing some scenes from our visit to Tennessee Feb 17-20th. It was an action packed trip from sunrise to sunset each day. We did some sightseeing beside birding, I know you are surprised about that. It is not always about the birds. I hope you enjoy the photos. The first and last days were taken up just for the drive to Tennessee and back home.

During our Tennessee trip we visited the Cherokee Indian Removal Memorial and Museum. The park was built as a memorial to the Cherokee Indians who were removed from their homeland and forced on the journey west known as the Trail of Tears. This area had 9 encampments of thousands of Cherokees that waited weeks to be sent across the river at Blythe Ferry. In 1838 around 9,000 Cherokees were forced to leave their homes and march west toward Oklahoma.

Our shadows at the Blythe Ferry crossing..the start of the Trail of Tears.

"How do we ever prevent the greed and lust for power from causing another Trail of Tears?" The memorial wall on the left side memorializes the 1835 census of the Cherokee. The map shows the actual trails showing the different routes taken by the Cherokees on their journey west.

A look at the memorial. 

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. " Jimi Hendrix

A message above is from Chief Chadwick Smith of the Cherokee Nation.

Yes, here are some of the birds seen around the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge and the memorial park. The Sandhill Cranes, Eastern Bluebirds, Mockingbird and  a Yellow-rumped Warbler. I hope you enjoyed my post. As always, I appreciate the visits and your nice comments.  Have a happy new week ahead!