Black Ice & Lemon Ricotta: A Winter Ride to Valhalla

The Ride

Winter was just beginning to eke out as I pulled the bike out of the garage to head out.  This winter has been a terrible one, with snow falling every few days, so the roads never really got fully cleared.  All the bikes had been parked for the past 2 months, so I was itching to get back on.  But, with the snow mostly clear, I didn’t want to let the cold temperatures hold me back.  From my starting point in Cross River, NY, I pointed the compass of the Beeline Moto toward The Farm Cafe in Valhalla.  It wouldn’t be a long ride as the compass indicated just 16 miles as the crow flies.  See our article on discovering new roads with Beeline. 

I thumbed the starter on the BMW R18 Classic, and it shook to the left as the pair of giant 900cc cylinders fired up.  It settled into the classic boxer engine rumble with each piston shifting perpendicular to the bike, creating the normal shake of a boxer… albeit super-sized with this large 1802cc engine.  If you’ve not had a chance to ride a BMW R18, it is a truly unique experience and is one of my favorite bikes I’ve ever ridden.  

As I looked at where the compass was pointing, I had a route in mind that would get me in the right direction.  I headed west on Route 35, then took the first left at the Cross River Reservoir, passing the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation on Route 121.  This wonderful winding road follows the reservoir, then crosses a causeway, splitting it before continuing south.  I took it all the way to the end, where it meets Route 22 in Bedford, NY. 

A left onto Route 22 has me heading south & I pass oHHo, which was reviewed in a previous trip.  I’ll stick on Route 22 for much of the ride south, passing Armonk, where I visited Bluestone Lane.  Once past Armonk as I approached the reservoir that runs alongside Route 22, I turned north on Route 120 (King Street) so I could take one of my favorite roads in the area at the north end of the reservoir.

It has an odd name, Nanny Hagen, which one might think refers to a child care provider, with both the road and a nearby creek sharing the same name.  But, the old Indian name for the area was Nanequeeken in the 17^th century, and it was likely anglicized to Nanny Hagen.  I’d hinted that the temperatures were still cold for this ride, and with the temperatures hovering around freezing & often colder in the shade, it is ripe for black ice.  I hit that right as I turned onto Nanny Hagen, with some water draining across the roadway and freezing.  The big R18 slid sideways on the ice, but I kept the 800lbs in check with some careful handlebar movement and steady throttle.  

Now fully awake from the skid, I headed up Nanny Hagen Road as it climbs the hill to the side of the reservoir, at a slow, measured pace, still in lots of shade.  It’s a great curvy road and thus a lot of fun for bikes, but fortunately, I didn’t encounter any more ice.  I crested Nanny Hagen and began the descent into Thornwood, NY.  A left onto Columbus Avenue has me passing Valhalla High School and then the other side of the reservoir.  There is some pump equipment here, and a road named Westlake runs along the edge.  Originally, that road would cross the Kensico Dam, which sits above the park, and connect Route 22 and Valhalla, but it was closed, along with many dam crossings, following September 11^th.  Despite many calls to reopen the road, it remains closed nearly 25 years later, with little indication that it will ever reopen.

The road begins to descend alongside the hill that provides the natural holding for the reservoir.   Near the bottom, the railroad and Bronx River Parkway sit parallel to it & I find a spot just in front of The Farm Cafe.  Rever shows my entire journey as just 27.5 miles.  Short, but sweet, even with the black ice wake up.  Street parking was available and generally flat, so motorcycles will have no problems.  See the route below.

REVER is a mobile app designed to help you track, plan, or navigate your ride. With the app, you can easily plan your route, view maps and directions, and track your distance using GPS technology. The app is an excellent tool for anyone who loves to ride and wants to keep track of their progress and distance.  Check out our full review of Rever.

The Coffee Shop

Valhalla is a hamlet within the town of Mount Pleasant.  Besides the aforementioned Kensico Dam, it is also home to the Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, and Kensico Cemetery.  There is another train station called Kensico & to avoid confusion, the local postmaster named the post office Valhalla as his wife was a fan of Richard Wagner’s operas.  The hamlet adopted the name in the early 20^th century alongside the train station.  

Kensico Cemetery was created as NYC cemeteries began to fill up.  Several prominent public figures are buried there, including baseball great Lou Gehrig, actress Anne Bancroft, Robert De Niro Sr (the famous actor’s father), author Ayn Rand, and many others.

With the bike parked, I headed into the shop.  I found a large wooden table that can easily seat 8-10 people on your side as you walk in.  On the left is a display with several bags of coffee beans, mugs, and more. Plain white walls, with painted brick on one side.  A few farm details like an old milk jug and a few rooster wooden sculptures kept the theme of Farm Cafe.  A large counter offers several baked goods, along with some cold beverages to pick from.  The menu posted on the wall behind the cashier has plenty of food and lunch options.  80s music, paired with some acoustic indie music, was playing on the speakers during my visit.

There were a handful of other guests seated, but several were queued up waiting to pick up their takeout orders.  Espresso, cold brew, latte, cappuccino, and drip coffee were on offer.  Flavors were available for any drink.  Several food options as well.

I ordered a latte & it arrived in a paper cup, but with so much take-out traffic as it sits directly across from the train station, it’s not surprising.  Many commuters likely grab coffee on their way to the city by train.  I’d also ordered their homestead pancakes, which are a lemon ricotta pancake.  It, too, arrived in a paper box, aimed at takeout customers.  The lemon was tangy, and the blueberry compote balanced nicely with the zest.  I thought the latte was good, smooth from all the milk with a hint of chocolate tones from the coffee.

With easy access from the Bronx River Parkway and a few fun other roads to get you there, The Farm Cafe is a worthy stop.