Route 6

Sometimes there is history right under your nose and you don't realize it...Route 6 was one of these recent discoveries. On my way North out of Bishop on the way to Big Trees Nursery in Chalfant, about 12 miles, I pass this sign,"Provincetown, MA 3205 Miles . I have passed this sign for years and it always brings to mind the many summers spent driving up Route 6 through Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts on family summer vacations. I'll never forget my Dad cursing the engineers who built the highway, especially through Rhode Island and it got to the point that he would rather drive 100 miles out of his way just to bypass the road as it went through Providence! I remember going in circles on Route 6 in Providence and announcing from the back seat that I believed we already passed this or that which just added to the stress my father was already under! Rhode Island is notorious for its signage problems.

Every year we went to Cape Cod on vacation. We'd stay at a hotel in Hyannis and then drive up and down the Cape going to different towns and beaches every day. Eventually we would drive all the way up to Provincetown for the day. I remember the sand dunes, the wide beaches, collecting grasses and shells, lobster and clam chowder. They were great days.

What I never knew was that Route 6 is the longest U.S. Transcontinental Highway. It is also known as the "Grand Army of the Republic Highway," and passes through 14 states. The first part of the highway was built in 1925 and extended from Provincetown, MA to Brewster, NY. Then they extended it to Erie, PA and by 1931 it went to Greeley, CO. In 1937 it passed through Bishop, CA and came to an end in Longbeach. In 1965 the Longbeach to Bishop segment was decommissioned.

To get a state by state look at Highway 6 go to a great site, "Route 6:The Longest Transcontinental Highway." They have alot of pictures and history. http://www.augustana.edu/.

Over the course of my life I have traveled on both ends of this grand highway. It makes me feel rather philosophical...am I at a crossroads in my life now? What is around the next bend? The past and present; what's up ahead and what is now behind and out of sight. Our family has always had a bit of the wanderlust so I guess it is just in my blood. As they say it is not about the destination but rather the journey.