In the years BT (before television) the Sunday Drive was a popular form of weekend recreation, enjoyed by families, couples, and guys and girls traveling in segregated groups of two to a half-dozen. Often there was no particular destination; more like aimless wandering in which the beauty of the countryside provided sufficient motive. Sometimes a picnic became the highlight, usually in a field under a shade tree or by the side of a stream. If a river or lake was nearby the gang went swimming or perhaps rented a rowboat and tried their hand at fishing. Beaches were mostly accessible to all, though some entrepreneurs purchased land with a small sandy beach and charged admission, offering comfort and changing facilities in return. Entry prices were reasonable and people were happy to pay. It sure beat sitting at home on a hot summer afternoon. As for the drive itself, most would be on roads free of heavy traffic and if you were in a convertible, that was as nice as it got.

I'd be willing to bet that in today's world, very few people wake up on a Sunday morning and say "let's go for a drive in the country." Few people even use the phrase "in the country" for it once represented a demarcation between urban and rural that was free of endless suburbs and ugly strip malls. The city just petered out in a mile or two and the "country" took over. Now you'll spend half your Sunday drive getting away from built-up areas and the other half coming home. Instead of ambling along, taking in the scents and scenes of a passing landscape, you'll be stuck in traffic jams with the windows raised and the air-conditioning on full blast. Of course there are other distractions to amuse yourself with on Sundays, including the ubiquitous television set, while for those with backyards the barbeque has replaced the picnic and the kids seem happy to splash around in one of those oversized tubs jokingly marketed as "pools." Rich kids get real pools. No, the Sunday Drive as we knew it is a thing of the past and I believe the current generation of car owners has missed out on one of life's simple pleasures.

Perhaps the next best thing would be to purchase a vintage auto, join a club of like-minded owners, and participate in the tours such clubs frequently arrange. The pace won't be rushed, a hard-working member or two will have mapped out a scenic, less-trafficked route and who knows, you and your new friends might even enjoy a picnic or a swim along the way. At the very least you'll get a hint of what the Sunday drive used to be, back in the years BT.

[Photo, Niagara River: Philip Powell]