Alfa Tomato
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Monday of this past week I needed a break from Cornell. A lot of people drink to escape the pressures of Cornell, some people smoke … I opted for an improptu long drive. I set off on Rt. 13 and just went where it looked pretty.
On my drive, I saw rows and rows of small rolling mound-like hills and at one point drove along a road called “Honeypot.” Horses whinnied and neighed inside a fence in a front yard and a sign that read “piglets for sale” was propped near the road by a barn. All the way, I had no idea where I was. But after an hour or so I ended up on Rt. 79 headed back into Ithaca.
The scenery was picturesque, but Dan Rappleye, a member of Car Pride, a car enthusiast club in Tompkins County, cautioned that now is “not the peak for fall foliage colors yet.” Maybe a week, or two, until perfection, then?
Tompkins County and the surrounding areas are ripe with roads perfect for long drives. Everyone I spoke to recommended a drive around Cayuga Lake — or any of the Finger Lakes. Roger Garnett of the Cayuga Sports Car Club recommended taking Rt. 34 to Rt. 90 to Rt. 89 around the lake.
But, inspired by Monday afternoon drive into nowhere, I wanted to know about great drives on small lesser-known roads — almost dirt roads not patrolled by cops!
Rappleye suggested driving out to Newfield on Rt. 13 South, taking South St. in Newfield to Shaffer Rd. in Newfield to North Van Etten. Shaffer Rd., Rappleye said “is a secondary road that’s paved and way out in the country.” Rappleye went on to describe North Van Etten as “not a village, but just a location — it’s four corners with a church.”
To continue the drive from North Van Etten, Rappleye said to turn onto Langford Creek Rd., which runs all the way to Van Etten. After traveling on Langford Creek road, Rappleye said to turn left on Rt. 224, a state highway, “which runs from Alpine Junction all the way to Candor.” Rt. 224 goes to Spencer. There hop on to Rt. 96 North heading towards West Danby and then on to Rt. 13.
Rappleye explained that vistas formed by the valleys of the Tompkins County hills make the drive beautiful — and worth the gas you’ll burn.
For expansive views of Cayuga and Seneca Lakes, Rappleye suggested a drive up to Trumansburg. Head to Trumansburg on Rt. 96 North, turn left on Rt. 227, go three blocks and then turn right onto Searsburg Rd. Searsburg Rd. winds through the Finger Lakes National Forest, which, Rappleye said, “has lots of hiking trails” and then comes out in “the little town of Valois.” Rt. 414 South travels into the Village of Watkins Glen.
Rappleye’s suggestions are great for orienting newbie spur-of-the-moment-long-drive drivers in the wilds of Tompkins County a nd beyond. But the best drives are those you chart out yourself. Get behind the wheel, rev the engine and drive wherever your mood takes you.