Headin' Out for the East Coast - Lord Knows I've Paid Some Dues...

Whoever can name the artist & song gets a prize upon arrival at the farm :)
(If I were a betting woman I'd say Alex or Therese. No fair google-ing.)

Well, we leave Kansas in four days, and I haven't started packing yet... (and I also have to pack up my CLASSROOM to move to a new school in August -- yeesh.)

Mark and I will be incommunicado from May 31 to June 4 or so -- We're driving from Kansas to Ohio (to visit law school friends), then on to Niagara Falls, a cruise on the Erie Canal, and a day in Letchworth State Park ("the Grand Canyon of the East") in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York.

I talked to my dad, and he will have the pool open on June 1st -- We'll crank up the heat, so bring your swimsuit. I better drag out the Thigh-Master! Let me warn you -- this ain't the same body that spent Spring Break in Fort Myers in '85... two kids and easily 10,000 fat-laden cappucino lattes later...

If anyone needs to get in touch, the best way to reach me will be by cell - (316) 683-7333.

Average Temperature - June 24-26

Hmmm.... 89 degrees in Wichita today, May 7th. You can imagine what it is like here in the "real" summer. Yick. We "escape" from the baking plains in 24 days.

Fortunately, up in the mountains we get nice, cool weather.

You all know that Donna's ideal temperature is 95 degrees (and 100% UV), so she may be a bit cranky... We just need to encourge her to pack a thick sweater for the weekend, or to purchase a ticket to come on out to visit me over Labor Day Weekend in Kansas, when it will likely be in the high 90s or more (and as always, eerily sunny!)

Weather.com's averages for June 26-28 in Monticello are:
High 76-77
Low 52-53

Google Map with Towner Farm Marked

Here is a link with a map to the farm.

For Dedy & Therese, the best way to come is across I-84 through Connecticut, and then head west on New York 17 from Middletown. You can actually save 15 minutes if you cut across New York 17K between Newburgh and Bloomingburg.

For Alex, I'd advise heading through Pennsylvania instead of going through New Jersey (with Friday traffic) -- I used to come up US 15 through Gettysburg, Wilkes Barre & Scranton, and then through Port Jervis, New York. Pretty drive and no traffic.

Donna has made this trek before!



View Towner Farm, Monticello NY in a larger map

What to Bring to the Catskills

You are coming to the COUNTRY. It is very casual!

I have to remind myself every year not to waste packing space bringing accessories... I practically live in Texas, so I'm used to wearing make-up, a belt, and jewelry to the supermarket... Up in Monticello, if you have on earrings, you look like you're going to a wedding!

What you'll need:

• Something warm for evening - sweatshirt or light jacket, jeans, & socks. It usually gets into the low 50s or 40s at night in June
  
• Tennis shoes
  
• Bathing suit (There is a heated pool out back.)
  
• PJs
• A pillow for bed (we only have four pillows)
• For the kids, a sleeping bag & pillow, and an Aerobed or air mattress if they want it.
• Those of you who are driving, if the forecast is chilly, throw a blanket in the trunk.
  
• 
  
• If we go out to eat at a restaurant on the lake on Saturday night (as Mark has volunteered to "babysit" the kids), I'll probably wear something like khaki crop pants and a sweater. Jeans are fine. Everything here is "lake-casual."

I'll have for everybody:

• beach & bath towels
• bug spray
• plenty of wine
• a couple of six packs of Moosehead -- assuming they still make it... (Nostalgia)
  
• lots of food
• coffee
  
• brand new beds! I hope!
• Adirondack chairs ready and waiting for you
• Anything you let me know you need in advance -- dietary restrictions, allergies?
  

Just so you know in advance:

• No cable
• No internet service -- neither high speed nor dial-up
  
• No long distance on the land line
• We do get a cell signal (at least with Verizon!)
• We do have electricity and hot running water, & a DVD player (and a RedBox a couple of miles away)
  
• If you need to check something on-line and don't have an iPhone or BlackBerry, there is a WiFi signal at the bakery up in town. We'll have a laptop in case of emergency.
• If you forget anything, your only option to buy what you need will be Wal-Mart (unless you want to drive 22 miles over the Shawangunk Range to Middletown, which has a Target and a "real" mall.)
  

June 26-28 (or stay as long as you want)

The Old Towner Farm
75 Cimarron Road
Monticello, NY 12701
Land Line (845) 794-7569

Tracy's Cell (316) 648-5294