The Thirteen Tales

Thursday. Woke up early, packed the car, and knew today would be a LONG day. It would be the big first day of the sale. Took off.

I had seen a mission table I liked on wednesday. It was still for sale as I drove by, but needed a good refinishing, and the chairs that was being sold with it, were NOT mission. He wanted 300 for it, and that was TOO high for me, plus on the first day, I didn't want to buy such a big piece of furniture, since I was tight for space in the honda civic.

I did go back and grab a 1920's photo of a naked lady, very art deco for 15.00. That was a good buy.

The whole thing about the worlds largest rummage sale, is that it is spread out. One may drive 5 miles and see nothing, then boom about 10 people set up in a field. There is everything, clothes, antiques, new dollar store goods, beanie babies, junk, toys. One is out in the heat, on a field, and you ROAST.

Every night i had a headache from the heat. I drank plenty of water, and ate like a pig. Grapes that mom had packed saved the day more than once.

the road is a hiway out in the middle of no-where. Gas staions, and civilization is very hard to find. Kept the gas tank on the full side at all times.

When I left Gadsen, the guy at the amaco, found out I was from MN and here for the sale, he said "just because we wear overall's, doesn't mean, that we don't have computers", which was a slam. Frankly, if they had computers they would be selling there shit on ebay, instead of draggin it to bumblefuck egypt to sell. Hello!

By nightfall, I was in Dunlap, Tenn. Had a good day, and got some ground covered and picked up some great loot. However Dunlap has no hotels. There must of been some of you doing good hotel karma.....

Found a room in a small town. The place was a dive, but the room MASSIVE and at 50 bucks a night, with a shower, air conditioning, and a bed, I was all about that....

In about a week, I'll throw my panties in a boots bag and head south for the Worlds Longest Rummage sale. Memories of last year rekindeled this evening makes the mind and the body excited for this years event. Mainly because I am forcing myself to do all 450 miles. LAst year it was a week long event, in which I arrived late (read: picked over), did only 1/3 of the route (I threw in the towel near Nashville), and passed up some great finds (roseville candle holders for 20 bucks, old photographs, ect.). This year I'm taking some major coin, and am on the look out for not only deals but those unique items either for the house, ebay, or altered projects. What I am not looking forward to is the 15 hour drive to Alabama, specifically the boring drive around WI that I have driven so many times I could do it while I sleep. I-90 through WI, and Ill is the worst evah. Remind myself to pack many cd's, snacks, a cooler, and a pillow to be able to sleep at the way-sides that are a gift to the interstate driver.

Although with the recent fame and fortune, I wonder what the back roads of Kentucky will hold this year. The sale has been promoted on HGTV, magazines, and other phantoms of the media.

ALthough I have to do some measurements, there is a mission bed for sale on EBAY for CHEAP (200.00) which if it is anything like the photos, would be a S T E A L. Specially since I can't keep away from mission furniture. Surprisingly enough, the bed is located in a qauint little town of Comerece, GA. If the size works, it may prove usefull to drive my gay ass down early, pick up the bed, and possibly stop to see someone in Athens, however this is spectulation, as if it would FIt in my car, it would take up alot of space from the get go, and with 450 miles to go, its hard telling what else would fit in, and with a 2003 honda civic... well things could get quite interesting, real quick. If ya happen to see a grey honda driving down the road, with shit piled high on the top, the trunk overloaded, and pulling a U-hall, with shit attached on the top-Honk and show your love!

OF course prior to any adventure, there is one loose thread to sever... and like Harry Potter, I'm the only one that can do it.................