DAY #13: COLBERT FERRY, AL TO COLLINWOOD, TN - 30.62 miles

STONE WALL- THE LEGENDS MUST NEVER FADE

Early this morning we woke and quickly packed our tent footprint and sleeping bags. It poured rain last night, but we stayed dry in our "undisclosed" camping spot...

This morning it was foggy as we left the park. We pedaled over the Tennessee River Bridge and it was a magical, powerful sight to see how quietly the river swam underneath us. This morning brought a few hills and then the road began to roll gently. As northern Alabama drew nearer the Tennessee border, the swampy area could not be more muggy. Thankfully, the skies were overcast and the roads were mostly shaded.

Our favorite stop today was at milepost 338, The Stone Wall (near Florence, AL).
This commemorative wall is being built by Tom Hendrix, a great-great grandson of Telahnay who was a Yuchi Indian. The story is one of passion and heritage that pays tribute to a young Indian girl
swept up in the removal of native peoples and thus one of many in The Trail of Tears. Tom has been
building this stone wall for over 35 years. An Indian spiritual advisor said to Tom, "When they come, some will ask 'Why does it bend, and why is it higher and wider in some places than others'? Tell them it is like your great-great-grandmother's journey, and their journey through life--it is never straight." So true in every aspect of our trip so far!
This is a must see for those thinking of taking a tour on the Trace. The wall is the largest memorial to a Native American, largest memorial to a female, and the largest un-mortared stone wall in the United States.

We met a couple of Canadian riders at the Alabama/Tennessee border. They had flown to Nashville from Calgary and Toronto. Sure wish we would have taken their photo. Both were seasoned riders and had a lot of different rides already under their belt. We chatted a while and then headed north and they headed south.

We arrived in Collinwood around 1:30pm and checked into Miss Monetta's Country Cottage #2. Dianne and Larry Butler own this cottage and another close by. They are a charming couple and so accommodating. Dianne washed a load of our laundry (whoa was it stinky) and it came back fresh as new. We ate lunch at Chad's Restaurant and chowed down on hamburgers and chicken strips.  The evening was restful. Really looking forward to our day "off" tomorrow!