US Route 6 is the longest contiguous transcontinental route in the USA. Running from Provincetown, MA to Bishop, CA (and before 1964 to Long Beach, CA), Route 6 goes through 14 states. This is your guide along all of its original 3,652 miles. From Revolutionary War sites to pioneer settlements and western mining towns, Route 6 offers an in-depth lesson in US History, charms of yesteryear and comforts of modern times.
Many small towns in America seem to have that one place where everyone shows up in the morning for coffee, conversation and a perfect, signature baked item. On my road trip across America, I asked locals in every town to point me to that special bakery. Here are five of the best on US Route 6:
1. PB Boulangerie Bistro, South Wellfleet, MA; A 22 mile bike ride on the Cape Cod Rail Trail deserves a reward, and there's no better treat than an authentic, flakey croissant or French pastry. This newcomer has become an instant hit on "The Cape."
PB Boulangerie
S. Wellfleet, MA
2. Buckie's Underground Bakery, Dennis, MA; Grab a signature “Nutmeg Muffin;" dipped in
butter and rolled in cinnamon sugar, it will undermine your diet for
sure. No wonder the place is packed every morning.
"Nutmeg Muffin" at Buckie's Underground Bakery
Dennis, MA
3. Danish Maid Bakery, Grinnell, IA; Do what the locals do and buy a “Coney” –
a whipped-cream filled éclair glazed with icing; The Des Moines Register
named eating a Coney from Danish Maid “one of the 100 things you must do before
you die."
Coney @ Danish Maid Bakery
Grinnell, IA
4. Sehnert’s Bakery and Bieroc Café, McCook, NE; www.bieroccafe.com; You can't leave town without trying a Bieroc - a
hot calzone-like meat and cabbage pocket - or anything else that comes out of the oven in this 50 plus year old Nebraska institution.
Sehnert's Bakery and Bieroc Cafe
McCook, NE
5. Erick Schat’s Bakery, Bishop, CA,
www.erickschatsbakery.com“Home of the Original Sheepherder Bread" since 1938, Schat's is an "artisanal" bakery in the foothills of the Eastern Sierras.
Thanks to the techies who developed "Google Alerts" - I can keep up to date with my favorite US Route 6/ US Highway 6/ Grand Army of the Republic Highway/ Roosevelt Highway; all the names that US Route 6 goes by from Massachusetts to California.
Of late, there have been several fatalities on the road - a few pedestrians and some car accidents - most likely due to early darkness on a busy highway.
On Route 6/202 Approaching Bear Mountain Bridge Photo from Journal News
Yesterday, however, an accident on one of my very favorite stretches of US Route 6 - the few miles out of Peekskill, NY where it pairs with Rt. 202 as it follows the wide Hudson River on curves and switchbacks through bluffs before winding down to the scenic Bear Mountain Bridge - closed the road down in both directions for a few hours. Click on here for the newspaper and video. A gravel truck just missed negotiating one of those turns and fell over, spewing crushed rock all over the road. Fortunately, the driver was OK and no other vehicles were involved.
Having done that drive many times, I'm surprised that this kind of thing doesn't happen more often. It is a breathtaking section of Route 6, but can be dangerous with lots of truck traffic. I'm including the video I took of that section of the drive below. It begins in Newtown, CT and ends just over the Bear Mountain Bridge....
