Route 6 Wondering and Wanderings

What is the psychological draw to follow single coast-to-coast or transcontinental routes? I’m talking about routes like US 6 or US 20. If you’re standing on the roadway you may have one end of the ribbon dipped into the Atlantic while the other is being pounded by the surf of the Pacific.

Route 6

map image source 

Growing up, I lived just south of the Bear Mountain Bridge and Harriman State Park. When I started riding motorcycles, seeing Route 6 signs became a fixture of my rides. My stomping ground weaved in, over and around 6 where it passes through New York and Pennsylvania.

Since I’ve lived on Long Island, I’ve passed over Route 6 while heading north across Connecticut many times. But I haven’t followed it for any length of Connecticut, Rhode Island or Massachusetts. I’ve skipped it even though it’s just… right… there.

After visiting the Gemini Giant in Wilmington, Illinois, the following morning I picked up Route 6 in Napoleon, Ohio and followed it to Pennsylvania. I’ve also come to Route 6 from the eastern side of PA and ridden sections of it in the middle. I’d be surprised if I haven’t ridden the full length of the route that passes through the Keystone state. I just seem to do it in pieces and parts versus straight through. That’s been my approach to Route 66, too.

Route 6 Snapshots

The Red Rose Diner in Towanda, Pa.: 472 Miles to Province Town, MA – 3180 Miles to Long Beach, CA.

The old fire station in Meshoppen, PA

6 to 666 in Sheffield, Pa

The Milford, PA Bigfoot

East Beach – Lorain, OH – Route 6 and Lake Erie

East Smethport, PA Post office

Serenity Glass Park, Port Allegany, PA

A mural in Coudersport, PA

Mail Pouch Barn on 6 and 146 in Mount Jewett, PA

Marie Antoinette Overlook – Wyalusing, PA

The Wellsboro Diner – Route 6, PA

Fuzzygalore

Rachael is the whimsical writer behind the 20+ year old Girlie Motorcycle Blog. As a freelance blogger, she is on a mission to inspire laughter, self-examination, curiosity, and human connection. Girlie Motorcycle Blog can be found on several Best Motorcycle Blog lists.

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3 Responses

  1. Missrider says:

    Wonderful pictures showing me that route 6 has plenty to share and goes coast to coast. Thank for sharing.

  2. Ted Kettler says:

    I have this long standing wish to do what I call The 20-30 tour. Start in Boston and take Route 20 (the longest road in America) west and then ride a little south and pickup Route 30 (the Lincoln Highway) and head back East. I’ve ridden a 100 mile section of Route 20 in upstate New York (near my farm) and roads like that take you back to simpler times.

  3. Bob B says:

    Route 6 ran straight through the hamlet of Mahopac, NY where I grew up. In 1975, at the age of 19, I borrowed my older brothers Honda CL125 and followed Route 6 to Provincetown and back. I think it was that trip that got me hooked on touring and staying off the interstates as time permitted. Bob

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