I have experienced Garage Sale Nirvana and it was
glorious. For me and dozens of other bargain hunters, the past two weeks have
been a dream come true…. played out along the highways and back roads of
America. It started with the Route 127
sale that stretched from Addison Michigan to Gadsden Alabama.
That’s just shy of 700 miles. Dubbed the world’s LONGEST garage sale it lives
up to it’s name.
I got quite a haul of Christmas goodies and a leather
bull spending just under $25 total. I was thrilled to be part of the traveling
troupe of thrifters… who went on this scavenger hunt, to find the Holy Grail…
and steal it on the cheap.
Vendors out and about were individuals, families,
churches, stores, communities, schools, senior centers, etc. They came up with
clever gimmicks to get you to buy. Incentives galore. There were GRAB BAGS of
every denomination. Or you could fill a grocery sack stuffing it with
everything you could. There were bins and boxes, where a multitude of things
were just a quarter. Big ticket items were also out there. As were tables
marked FREE, where everything on them was for the taking.
It was a FUN time, carnival like atmosphere… with like
minded people of all ages… coming together… from all walks of life… with purpose...
To SELL or to SHOP. The only downer was when we got to VAN WERT, OHIO. The local police
there were killjoys threatening to ticket cars pulled over to attend the sales,
including ours. Not the WELCOME the Van Wert Chamber of Commerce promised for
this shindig. So much for trying to pour money into their local economy. We
headed down the road and were pleasantly embraced somewhere else.
The following weekend the Lincoln Hwy/BUY-WAY Garage Sale
activities commenced. The first few days were worry free. Stretching from Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia. But a forecast
of stormy weather on Saturday throughout parts of Indiana
and Ohio threw
a wrench in things.
However, the show went on as planned with torrential
downpours, coming and going. Vendors scurried to save what was exposed to the
elements, while others relaxed under tents, in barns and garages to continue
the sale without letting Mother Nature ruin the fun… giving us all something to
talk about, as we milled about. Running back and forth to the parked cars, caused
the most aggravation for thrifters… because there was no way to avoid the raindrops
falling, unless you happened to pick up a vintage umbrella.
(I looked like a drenched rat chasing deals)
To be totally honest, my finds along this route were
more interesting than Rt. 127. And the most I paid for anything on Lincoln Hwy was $2.
And it was for a Picasso Print that retails for over $200.
Everything else
including a Thomas Kincaid Lamp was only a quarter.
(I asked if the port-a-potty was for sale or to use?)
Traveling down these highways looking for THRIFTY
FINDS was a welcome change of pace from the norm. I am HAPPY I did it. And want
to thank my hubby for navigating every step of the way.
Next year, I am obligated to go back because… a little Christmas
Tree I purchased was missing it’s base and the woman I bought it from declared
she’d find it… and have it there waiting for me if I returned a year from now.
And I believe she will. Just like I believe in Santa and re-purposing what
someone else no longer wants.
PS) Although
I chastised the city of Van Wert,
OHIO in my story above for the local
cops causing problems where there were none. (because it is an issue the town
needs to address before the next annual sale.) I’d like to give a SHOUT OUT to their Senior Citizen
Center. Kudos for their
participation. Their FILL UP YOUR SHOPPING SACK for $1.00 was the most fun I’ve
had in years.
