Route Six is a magical journey from Massachusetts to California across the middle section of the United States. Often mistaken for Route Sixty-Six, which is a much shorter highway through eight states from Chicago to Los Angeles, Route Six connects fourteen states along a picturesque three thousand, two hundred and five miles (five thousand one hundred and fifty-eight kilometers) of the Continental United States. Route Six is considered America’s longest continuous route as well as the second-longest highway in the country. For many years, Route Six was referred to as “The Roosevelt Highway” (in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt); however, in nineteen fifty-three, it was formally dedicated as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, honoring the Union soldiers who fought in the Civil War. In researching this novel, I selected towns to visit along Route Six that are out-of-the-way and less-than-ordinary… in hopes that you would be inspired to follow Sam Chapman’s footsteps and take a road trip across America. While writing this book, I concentrated on story-telling and gave as much scope to the simplicity of the journey as I could. Following is a list of the remarkable places Sam visits during his ten-day road trip, and the approximate distances from east to west:
A road trip can be whatever the traveler wants it to be. Throughout the following pages, I have created characters open to the possibility of allowing the changes in countryside, culture and climate to embrace them. In doing so, hopefully you will transport yourself along Route Six and enjoy the magic and mystery of what is truly a magnificent journey. Bill Schneider |
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