Fall is well underway, making it time to fall back. No, not to fall back to standard time — though that happens early Sunday morning — but rather to take those Porsche-friendly fall-color drives on the seldom-traveled roads of America.

The fall colors are sight to behold by themselves, but there are other interesting things to see along the way. This time, we took the back roads as they wound through the mountains of western Virginia to the land where the buffalo roam. Buffalo roaming in Virginia? More on that later.

Virginia is in the mid-Atlantic, and fall foliage colors peak during October. States farther north have passed peak colors, while states farther south are waiting for their peak colors. During October in Virginia, the back roads and mountain roads offer spectacular views, a large variety of tree species with their varying colors, and Porsche-friendly drives.

One of the most popular scenic drives is the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive, which run 469 miles from Front Royal, Virginia to Cherokee, North Carolina. The northernmost 105 miles from Front Royal, Virginia to Waynesboro, Virginia is called Skyline Drive. But the back roads — off the beaten tourist track — offer some of the best driving and viewing, along with some interesting discoveries.

This drive took us on a day trip from Roanoke, Virginia along Virginia Route 311 to the village of Paint Bank, Virginia. This section of Virginia 311 is a classic two-lane highway with plenty of room, light traffic and no small towns, giving us the opportunity to slow the pace for sightseeing or take a few fun curves.

The weather refused to cooperate this day with light rain and drizzle mixed with moderate fog, making everyone wonder if the drive was going to be any fun. Unfortunately, photography was limited most of the trip, but as our Porsches climbed from Roanoke and the Shenandoah Valley, most of the rain disappeared and the fog was only on the highest peaks.

In many places, the road had dried, making for a better Porsche experience while staying within the posted speed limit. Since Paint Bank is in a valley, our arrival was met with cloudy skies and mountain fog but no fog in the valley. No long Porsche drive is complete without good food, and Paint Bank has just the place.

An interesting license plate on this 914. If the driver is inside does that make him in-sane?

The Swinging Bridge Restaurant has it all, a beautiful location, great food, and buffalo on the menu. There are those buffalo again!

The restaurant entrance is through a general store, which is interesting in itself. Inside the restaurant is the swinging bridge that gives the restaurant its name. The bridge is in the second-floor gift shop and crosses above dining area.

PCA Blue Ridge Region members Donna and Gary Templeton on the "swinging bridge."

After the meal, everyone went to see the sights and do a little shopping. Outside there was barbecue cooking and available to take home, flowers blooming in several places, and mountain and valley views. In October, Virginia is still warm enough to stand outside and socialize, which many did for some time after eating — it takes a while to digest the sights of this beautiful location.

Leaving Paint Bank offers many routes home, but before heading home a short side trip was necessary. Just past the general store is Virginia Route 600, the road to the buffalo. There are many buffalo ranches in Virginia, but it is still strange to see those animals, which we think of as western animals, this far to the east.

Buffalo has become a popular restaurant entree, allowing many more buffalo ranches to locate on the East Coast. If you have not tried bison, you may want to give it a chance. Bison is reported to be lean and healthy, and most eastern ranches raise organic herds.

Buffalo stand in a field near Paint Bank, Virginia.

Some people went home the way they came, while others took the road less traveled. I chose an interesting side road and drove a few miles without knowing where I was going. Then I pressed the "home" button on the GPS and followed that route back.

There was no hurry to get home, so the leisurely drive was relaxing and the scenery was magnificent. Since there had been rain, my Porsche was already dirty, so taking a few unpaved roads did not matter. The alternate route home is something I do often, and I recommend it.

No matter where you live close to fall colors, take the opportunity to make a trip on a road less traveled to take a slow, relaxing drive. Forget about practicing for a DE in the curves. Instead take time to enjoy the sights and pace of back-road America. Fall back and enjoy the season.

PCA Blue Ridge Region members talk in the restaurant parking lot before heading home. The fall colors were all around them along with late summer flowers still in bloom.