Coffee Ride to Bobo’s Cafe

The Ride

Somers, NY, isn’t far away, so I was riding the Vespa GTS 300 for today’s ride. It was so close that the Beeline compass indicated a very short 5.9 miles. See our article on discovering new roads with Beeline.

Most motorcyclists will scoff at the idea of a scooter, but unless you’ve ridden one, you don’t realize they can be a fun experience, too. It replaced a car I had for errands, so it is ridden often, albeit not long distance.

My Vespa is the larger GTS variant with a “huge” 278cc engine. Sure, it’s not a sports bike, but 0-30MPH will out-accelerate almost any car. But it has a wide open throttle at 80MPH, so above 50, it takes some time to accelerate.

The tiny wheels make for a nimble ride in more urban environments but can become a bit skittish at faster speeds, but I find it’s still enjoyable in the 40-60MPH common with back roads riding.

So, with the Vespa details as prologue, I headed north on 121 from our starting point in Cross River, NY. I turned left on June Road, leading to Salem Center, where I turned left onto Titicus Road. This is a road made for motorcyclists and one of the best in the local area, so it was a no-brainer to use it for our ride today.

Titicus Road hugs the coast of the Titicus Reservoir, part of NYC’s water supply like many of the reservoirs in northern Westchester County. The road offers plenty for motorcyclists, and while the Vespa wasn’t going to blast out of corners like a more powerful motorcycle, it still was fun. Unfortunately, I have the side stand on this bike, so it has less ground clearance on left-hand turns & I scraped it a few times during my spirited ride powered by the 22HP in this HPE version of the Vespa engine.

The best part of 118 ends where it intersects with Route 22, but I stay on it, passing over Interstate 684 before it has a few gentle winding turns before a 90-degree left as it intersects with Route 202/100. I take this just a bit south, passing the Elephant Hotel on my right and turning to stay on 202, where 100 continues straight. A quick right into the parking lot of Bobo’s, and our ride is complete.

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.

It’s not long, but the Vespa is hardly a touring bike, and our efforts roughly doubled the original compass distance to 11.1 miles as tracked by Rever.

The Coffee Shop

Hachaliah Bailey was one of the original circus showmen. His traveling menagerie was the first to feature an elephant, and later, animal acts became synonymous with traveling circuses. His circus eventually merged with a few others to become part of Ringling Bros & Barnum & Bailey Circus. Bailey built the famous Elephant Hotel in northern Westchester County of New York to honor one of the first animals in his circus. Plenty of signs around town highlight the circus and elephant history, so it is an integral part of the town’s identity.

Located around the corner from the Elephant Hotel, Bobo’s Cafe is a well-known and highly frequented coffee shop with outdoor and indoor seating in the heart of circus history in Somers, NY. Bobo’s Cafe is in a mini strip mall with plenty of parking for the cafe and other tenants in the shopping area. A sign in a handwritten style with a coffee mug separating the words Bobo’s and Cafe invites you to enter.

The interior of the cafe boasts a contemporary atmosphere, with sleek marble tables and modern metal chairs that are both chic and comfortable. The ceiling is a checkerboard pattern of black & white square. To add to the ambiance, the walls are adorned with photographs of Hollywood legends like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and Katherine Hepburn, evoking a sense of nostalgia and glamour. It’s just next door to Heritage Hills, which was initially intended for older residents and still has about 30% over 65, so perhaps the celebrities selected cater to that demographic.

The counter has several items like fruit cups and egg and potato salads available. Clean white brick-like tiles on the back wall create a clean look, with a chalkboard above highlighting menu choices.

Coffee options include red eye, latte, cappuccino, americano, cafe au lait, and iced & even frozen options.

The shop is open early at 6 AM and closes mid-afternoon, so coffee is complemented by a full breakfast & lunch menu. The dishes I saw on other patrons’ tables looked outstanding and made me regret having breakfast at home before my ride. For those seeking a lighter option, the cafe boasts a delectable selection of pastries that complement any coffee order. Having just eaten, I was only having coffee today, but it didn’t mean I wasn’t considering the options for my next trip.

The Refreshments

A strong takeout business meant a paper cup for my cappuccino. It had a full-length sleeve branded with the cafe’s name and year of establishment. Although I prefer ceramic cups when drinking in, this cup would be perfect for takeout as it wouldn’t burn my hands in the slightest.

Upon taking my first sip of the cappuccino, I was immediately struck by how delicious it was. The foam was just the right consistency, allowing the coffee to pass through smoothly. As I savored the rich, flavorful taste of the cappuccino, I found myself doing my best to resist the tempation of the other dishes that were being served on nearby tables. The mere sight of them was enough to make my mouth water.

In the end, I made the decision to return to Bobo’s Cafe at a later date and try out their breakfast menu. If their cappuccinos are any indication of the quality of their food, then I’m sure that I won’t be dissapointed!