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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Robyn Wilson

A journey along the Trail of Tears is essential to understanding Tennessee’s history

Ava points to the Cherokee alphabet in Tennessee - (Robyn Wilson)

Blocked by a beaver dam, I turn my kayak around and retreat into a long, dark drainage tunnel. I keep compact, head ducked low and paddle stuck out like a barge pole, poking the corrugated metal sides to stay centred.

“When the water’s high, your head almost touches the top,” says my guide, Joe Bryan, paddling ahead. “I’ve had to use my hands to pull me through before – imagine that.”

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