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
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
East Beach – Lorain, OH – Route 6 and Lake Erie
East Smethport, PA Post office
Serenity Glass Park, Port Allegany, PA
Mail Pouch Barn on 6 and 146 in Mount Jewett, PA
Marie Antoinette Overlook – Wyalusing, PA
The Wellsboro Diner – Route 6, PA