A good trip is not a long one. With only $10 worth of gas, I hit the road to see how much fun I could have while cruising around the house on a motorcycle ride in New Jersey and New York, and I wasn’t disappointed. .
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It was a beautiful spring day with low humidity and 70s temperatures. I went to the garage to warm up my 1990 BMW K 75, which was dubbed the “Flying Brick”. A little more gas when idling, the BMW still sings the familiar song run run run run. I’ve owned it for 32 years, and with 28,000 miles on the watch, it’s barely broken down.
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With a 750cc inline three-cylinder, a waterproof saddlebag and a coffee-style windscreen, several motorcycle reviews have called the K 75 the perfect bike. It can take you around the corner to buy a liter of milk or around the world. I filled her up with gas, only getting a few gallons for my $10. The gas station attendant admired the BMW’s silver paint and blue stripes and asked if it was new. I told him it was almost twice his age.
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The days of the 1,000-mile weekend trip are over for me. Most of my motorcycling these days, alone or with friends, are designed around breakfast, lunch, and a late-afternoon snack.
From my home in Ramsey, New Jersey, head quickly north on Highway 17 to Aunt El’s Farmers Market in Sloatsburg, New York. Once just a small treehouse in the summer and a Christmas tree in the winter, it’s now half a block long and sells trees, horticultural artwork, and fresh fruit and vegetables. But for me, it’s all about Aunt El’s bakery, which serves freshly baked cakes, pies, and cookies. I enjoy a hot apple with coffee.
Next, I turned west on Sterling Mine Road, returned to New Jersey, and passed Ringwood Manor, a 724-acre park with rolling hills and a murmuring stream. A slow walk through the park is usually a good way to entertain, but on this trip I continued on and turned onto Margaret King Avenue. A few miles later, I turned west onto the Greenwood Lake Turnpike and crossed the Monksville Reservoir, which supplies water to northern New Jersey and entertains kayakers, boaters, and anglers.
Before 9 am, the lake surface shimmered in the morning light. Anglers went out to try their luck. I sneaked into the parking lot with my K 75 making a noise like a sewing machine – even the geese on the beach were unharmed. Walking on the pier gives a sense of natural beauty so close to home.
Continuing on the Greenwood Lake Turnpike took me to its namesake body of water, which is a 7-mile-long narrow lake that straddles the border of New York and New Jersey. From the turn I could see boats bobbing on the water at the South Shore Marina, where, years ago, I kept my “Dumb Idea,” my 19-foot day sailboat. Anyone who has owned a boat will understand the name. The road that becomes the Warwick Turnpike, is all mine as I make a big arc around Upper Greenwood Lake.
My next stop is Wawayanda State Park, a wonderful 34,350-acre reserve with 60 miles of trails and a beautiful spring-fed lake with wide beaches, marinas and kayak rentals. It’s a great place to take a short break and enjoy the sun sparkling on the lake. I only burned $10 worth of gas, so there’s no rush.
I returned to New York, turned west onto 94th Street, then north onto Sanfordville Road. Turning west on Pine Island Turnpike brings me to Pine Island, an area known for its onion farms and some of the blackest soil you’ll ever see. After a quick stop in town, home to a great restaurant called The Jolly Onion, I turned around on the turn and turned north on Little York Road, a country lane overlooking the fields. and neat little houses in the dappled sunlight. I stopped at Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery, which has a cafe, picnic tables and acres of land. While walking the grounds, I admired the roses in bloom and made a note of returning to visit for longer.
See all the stories of Rider’s Northeast US tour here.
Continuing east on the Pine Island Turnpike, I turned east at West Street and drove into the heart of Warwick, a charming town filled with cafes and restaurants. There is free parking on a large public property just off Main Street. I found an outlet to charge my phone and ate a slice of pizza while I waited.
Further down Main Street at the end of town is a large public park with benches under towering oak trees, providing additional shade for the spring breeze. On a small hill is the Old School Baptist Meet House, an imposing white church built in 1810. It is now maintained by the Warwick Historical Society, and I enjoyed a quick tour.
I left Warwick by heading south on Oakland Avenue (Highway 94) and then turning east on Galloway Road (Highway 17A). Turning left on Kain Road brings me to Bellvale Farms Creamery, which looks like a Norman Rockwell painting of a farm and offers sweeping views of a valley full of farms. It also serves delicious ice cream, but I don’t want to spoil my appetite.
One of my favorite stops for breakfast or lunch is The Village Buzz Cafe, located in the heart of Greenwood Lake Village on Windermere Avenue, just off 17A Street. The cafe serves hometown food with welcoming smiles all around, and its menu includes all-day breakfast, sandwiches and sweets. Homemade fries with onions alone are worth the stop. On the front is a chalkboard with positive affirmations written in various colors, and they remind me how lucky I am to be able to ride a two-wheeler on a beautiful day.
When I got home, I had only cycled 89 miles, but the $10 I spent was a bargain for a great day of exploring the hills, lakes, and bends.
