During the election cycle, I get stuck at my desk, or in our conference room, for long periods, either interviewing candidates, or going through their questionnaires or past news reports or working on endorsements. Amid all that, there’s still letters to put together, Community Views to edit and, of course, editorials on all kinds of issues to write.

It’s made me (nearly) forget it’s fall, and if I don’t get outside as much as possible the next couple weeks, I’m going to miss this year’s show.

When I headed over the steel-plate-with-portruding-bolts-laden Tappan Zee Bridge Wednesday afternoon for the 17th Congressional District (only incumbent Democrat Eliot Engel was interviewed; his challenger, Republican Robert Goodman was ill) I was just thinking about getting to the White Plains office on time and wiggling through the construction traffic patterns on the I-287.

On the way back to the office, stuck in late-afternoon Rockland-bound traffic, I got my chance. Driving over the bridge, I could see the shock of colors dotting the Rockland hills. Darn it, I don’t want to miss fall. So, the next day, when I went to pick up my daughter, I used back roads to see as much yellow, orange and red (I still find the red amazing) as I could.

Of course, even though gas prices are down, I’m still hesitant to just drive for no purpose. So, I’m looking for recommendations of fall foliage views along roads that go from here to there. My recommendations? Of course, Route 9W through Valley Cottage and Congers, up to Dr. Davies apple farm; over Clausland Mountain; by the Four Corners in West Nyack (Stawtown Road.)

For northern and western Rocklanders, what’s the prettiest, leafiest street you know?

I want to end with one fall warning: Leaves are slippery on roadways, so drive carefully.