Ah, the infamous 160 miles of Arkansas yard sales tale. I’ve heard and read about Bargains Galore on 64 since I moved here eight years ago. I’ve never actually gone in search of such wonder, though, because, hello-August; Arkansas; Summer. It’s scorching in August, y’all. Who willingly drives from sale to sale under burning hot sunlight?
It turns out-we do. We’ve had surprisingly cool temps the last few days. And, by cool, I mean low nineties. That I could do, I thought, as we set out early Saturday morning (and by early, I mean 9:30 am-it was a day off, after all, and sleeping-in is a MUST).
Thom and I made the hour trek to Conway to begin the 64 adventure. Our first stop was a huge, dusty, packed lot wth eight or so very large sales, swimming with bargain shoppers. I found a few treasures at the first tent; craft supplies! It already looked promising. I made the rounds through the other tents and made only one more purchase; a set of tiny winking Santa mugs for only fifty cents.
We left in a plume of dust and headed further down 64. Traffic flowed fairly smoothly-we were all on the same mission and had the same technique. As we would approch a line of parked cars, indicating another sale (the signs were blocked due to the line of parked cars) we would do a slow drive-by to scope out the sale and determine whether or not we’d stop.
We passed a lot of sales. They looked to be full of either kids toys or kids clothes, and we’re not in the market for either.
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| Ceramic Baby Parts, Anyone? |
This method continued all the way to Morrilton where we found the main drag full of sales, sellers, and food vendors. I took my time and strolled through each sale looking for nothing in particular-that’s how I yard sale. I know what I need/want when I see it.
It was back to Conway for lunch and then we headed down 64 in the opposite direction toward home.
Sadly, we didnt find much that we couldn’t live without. It seems that everyone in Arkansas is selling the same old things. It sort of makes me sad to see all the junk-where will it go if no one wants it? Are we filling land-fills with all this once-wanted “stuff?” It makes me rethink my purchases a bit.
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| My bargains, including a vintage bed sheet for bunting making. |
Thom and I rolled into the Cove after seven and a half hours of yard sale-ing. I spent a whopping $5 in 47 miles of yard sales. Lunch cost four times that. But, the fun? The time spent together? Priceless.
Bart and I did Bargains Galore for about 3 or 4 years, starting in 2005, when we lived in Bryant. We have been from one end of it to another. I was able to add several items to my vintage camera collection, a decent cedar chest, and a two-seat school desk that still sits in my kitchen. Bart bought a stoplight in Alma once. I made him get rid of it around the time Lorelai was born, because it was huge. After a few years it seemed to not be that great, we had a house full of stuff, and we stopped being willing to be in the heat so much. Every year Bart brings up doing it again. He loved it far more than I did, but thankfully neither of us is willing to drag poor Lorelai on such a trip.
How fun! I love everything you bought, but I would have been all over those doll parts. They make excellent Halloween decor:))
One end to the other! Would be so much fun. I think if we had gone further we would have found more unique items. Nice to see you here!
Ha! I didn't think about that (which is funny because I'm SO getting into Fall mode).