Crossing Ohio I had to sort of wonder why a state would even want to build a turnpike. It takes a concerted effort to get off of it, and when you’re Ohio, most people are going to take the easy way out. It took some coaxing on our part to get off of it and onto the back roads.
This was not one of those bugs. This one sat nearby, for sale.
After crossing into Pennsylvania we picked up Highway 6, which carried us leisurely across the state through forests, small towns, and farmland.
The Kinzua Bridge, at one point in history it was the tallest railroad bridge in the world. In 2003 half of it was destroyed by a tornado. It makes for a pretty cool view and reminder of how targeted the path of destruction can be from a tornado.
I’d say they are about 50 feet in the air in this picture. I mean inches.
The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. A bit of a grandiose title, but pretty nonetheless.
Leonard Harrison State Park.
When we first spotted this deer it was munching grass behind a thicket of bushes. I told the kids to sneak over really quietly and see how close they could get, expecting that the deer would hear them coming a mile away. Instead they got right up to the bushes and started to make their way through them before we saw the deer jump ten feet straight up in the air and run away a little bit. Then it stopped to see what the hell had just happened.
Give the kids a bridge and a pile of rocks, and they’re good for the day.
36 Comments on “Route 6”
Back in the day, (saying that with a crackle in my voice, haha), my husband and I and a bunch of friends would ride motorcycles to the “Grand Canyon” to camp for the weekend. We usually ended up heading into town for breakfast at the Wellsboro Diner. Nice place.
And as a kid we called those steel bridges “humming bridges” because of the sound the car tires made going over the open fretwork.
Enjoying following your adventure and wishing you happy trails. Your children are having the best childhood ever!
I’ve been following you for years and bought your books, but never commented on a post. I was wondering if you would be coming through my area and then I saw the Route 6 title. You must have driven right by my house in Sheffield, PA. I recognize a lot of those photos. Have fun on your latest adventure.
Stunning photography! You guys live life to the fullest, enjoy!
Good times.
Some of the countryside looks quite English.
And more bridges please!
Excellent photo of Ouest looking out the window. Her deep imagination is blended with the beautiful scenery.
So much is captured in that photo.
Great pictures Pat!
About 1/2 of them are Ali’s, too. I hate to get all the credit.
Beautiful pictures!
Holy cow, your new wagon was made for that kind of scenery. The American heartland was never among my favorite destinations. I’m a coastal, mountain, beach or urban world capital traveler. But those are some of the most fabulous photos I’ve ever seen, on this blog or anywhere else.
love love love!!! wish we were able
to meet up! until the next time. maybe we’ll catch up with ya in South America!
Hope so. Could be pretty epic!
Were the stacked Beetles secured together? They seem a bit precarious.
They had a light pole going through them. Not sure how sturdy that would make them in a stiff wind, though.
Love your pictures! We live in a beautiful country.
Pennsylvania is one of the the prettiest states in the country. No extreme landscape attractions, no tall mountains, no desert, no ocean, but after you spend some time there you realize that almost every acre in the state has a post card beauty to it. Too bad you missed Pittsburgh, it’s a much better city than the name implies. I think you would have liked it a lot.
Awesome photography as usual.
So spectacular!!!
Your pictures make me feel I’m right there with you!
You’re living the dream!!!!
Beautiful pictures! Fantastic adventure!
great photos again. I am heading from Ontario down to Florida next month in my westfalia. When you guys do backroads do you just use an atlas? I am hoping to avoid interstates for most of the drive.
No reason you should ever have to hit an interstate if you don’t want to. Grab a cheap atlas and go.
I became a lot concerned when I saw the picture of Lowe holding that red mushroom, maybe he shouldn’t be even touching it, I don’t know! Does anyone know what kind it is?
Don’t worry, Roland, I’ll be fine. I always have Lowe taste them first.
I knew that but Ronald did not 🙂
Most likely a Russula: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russula_nobilis. Moderately poisonous if eaten in quantity.
Is that a GPS on the lower drivers side?
iPod. That and a bluetooth speaker provide the tunes in this rig.
Ipods have been known to multitask: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202570 🙂
It’s an iPod Nano. Not an iPhone without the phone.
Love the midwestern rolling hills, forests, and farmlands–and old bridges. Both sides of my family are from there, having emigrated from various parts of Prussia/Bohemia. When my Dad finally got to see where my ancestors came from in Europe, he says he can see why they chose those parts of Ohio, the landscape was very similar. I like the bridge pictures (both metal bridges) and the gravel farm road out the front windshield. Kudos to you for getting off the paved roads already.
Looks like you went a bit far north to see Amish country, more beautiful countryside with even more vintage rides: horse and buggies. It’s not just 3rd world countries that still use animals for transportation. You sometimes see them parked outside a grocery store.
And I’ll add to the chorus congratulating you on the wonderful photos. I know it’s a lot of work to sort them and publish them all the time, so thanks for sharing.
Love both the bridges, sad that the railway one was partially destroyed.
You are in one of my favourite places in your country. The last time we came through there was about 3 or 4 years ago in October. The fall colours were beautiful at that time of year.
Your kids are sure growing, time does fly doesn’t it? They are a cute little pair.
Keep on having fun and safe travels!
Elaine on Vancouver Island BC Canada
These are the best photos, ever! Thank you!
I get sop nostalgic looking at your pictures, they are great! he one of the house through your front window, reminds me of the movie “what is eating Gilbert Grape”. The Oregon of my youth was full of roads, bridges, barns and houses like that. I would die if my kids were close to the edge of a bridge like that.
Thanks for the pics from the homesick German.
Hey Bums, if you make it to Portsmouth, NH, I’d be happy to take you for a picnic sail to the Isles of Shoals on Calypso.
Hi gang this my first day on your blog and look forward to follow along. After just completing a oddesey of 18,000 miles of travel on the solar only powered boat RA it will be refreshing hearing of your new adventures. If your coming down to the sunshine state where I am building my next solar boat to go back out to finish up what I’ve started do stop in for for a cook out “live the dream”
So glad you got to visit the PA Grand Canyon .. it is our backyard .. hope you return again .. it’s a great place to just stop and breath