Tips for Attending the World's Longest Yard Sale

Whether you call it a yard sale, tag sale, estate sale, garage sale, moving sale, or something else, most everyone has attended at least one in their lifetime. But unless you've attended the World's Longest Yard Sale, you have no idea what you're in for!

It's the Tour de France for "junktiquers," and just like Lance Armstrong does most likely every day, you'll need to prepare.

What to bring:

• cell phone - Be prepared for 'roaming' most of the way, but it's good to have a phone along. Those new ones that allow you to send photos would be great in this case; you can send a photo of something you think a friend would like and just ask 'em if they want it!

• rain jacket, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat - Yes, all four at once. You can find everything at the sale, including rain and sunshine within a five-minute timeframe. Rain jackets are better than umbrellas; you'll need your hands to shop!

• layers of clothing - I've had days at the sale that start in the 40-degree range and end up close to 90, with rain, fog and sunshine all in the mix. It's the South, y'all, you never know!

• at least two pairs of comfortable shoes - Many of these sales are in fields, and mud is always likely. Have a pair to wear and a pair to switch into while in the car, or a pair to wear while you're cleaning the pair you were wearing!

• boxes, bags, plastic wrap, newspaper - Last year my shoppin' friend and I each had a big box in the back of the SUV to put our smaller items in after each stop. It keeps things separated, somewhat tidy, and safe from breakage. It's always good to have extra wrapping materials on hand in case the seller doesn't have any or enough for your liking. Shopping bags are good to have, too, especially if you expect to buy a lot of smaller items like silverware, books, linens or hardware. Newspapers or plastic bags also make good covers for your car's floor, to protect them against all the in-and-outs in muddy shoes.

• cash - Bring a variety of small bills. Most sellers don't take checks; I've never seen one that accepts credit cards. ATM machines are relatively easy to find, but many run out of cash, especially on weekends.

• camera - Even just a disposable one will do, but bring one along, especially if you've never been to this part of the country before. You're in the land of rolling hills, historic farmlands, and old Southern towns with names like Lick Skillet, Shake Rag and Turkey Foot--there's bound to be something you want to photograph!

• gloves/antibacterial hand gels/wet wipes - This is probably a given, considering the various and sundry items you'll be shuffling through during the day and then eating while on the road, but it's important to remember them for another reason: port-o-potty. Enough said. Those all-over body refresher wipes are very... well... refreshing, too, after you've been out shopping in a large farm field in the heat.

• road-trip music - Bring your cassettes and CDs for the stretches of rural highway with poor radio reception.

• measuring tape - Don't forget to also measure the space where the thing you want will go. Otherwise, the measuring tape won't do you much good!

• flashlight, magnifying glass - Especially if you're looking for items that have hallmarks or other identification on them. And there's no electricity out in many of the field sales; if you want to see inside a chest of drawers, for example, you'll need a light source.

• maps - There's a link to the "official" yard sale map at the bottom of this page. It's good for planning, but online map providers like mapquest.com are great because you can zoom in on the highway or see smaller towns that won't show up on most maps.

• small plastic zipper bags - For any small parts, screws, bolts, hardware, etc. that you don't want to lose, plus they are good temporary wallets for walking through field sales, allowing you to leave your real wallet and/or purse locked safely out of sight in the car.

• tarp, rope - Especially if you have a pickup truck, but also maybe if you have an enclosed SUV, because inevitably something won't fit all the way in it, and if hundreds of other shoppers need a tarp, you might have to drive a piece before you find a store that isn't sold out.

• Make lodging arrangements. I strongly discourage trying to get lodging "on the fly" unless you are very, very, very flexible (meaning you won't mind terribly if you have to end up sleeping in your car). The sale route is almost all through rural areas, and the small towns you go through don't have a lot of hotels or inns anyway. Even if you call weeks in advance, you might find that many of them are already booked. There's dealers too, not just shoppers--so there really are a lot of people needing lodging in very unpopulated areas. If you really don't want to plan your trip too closely, at least make a reservation in a town somewhat near where you might be so you can always go there as a last resort. Just make sure it's the kind of reservation you can cancel without penalty--and don't forget to cancel as soon as you can so that someone else might have the room. Did I mention lodging is a hot commodity along the sale route?

• Make a wish list. If you're going with a friend or friends (and I hope you are--that's always more fun), swap lists of items that you're looking for, or post sticky notes on the car's dashboard. Weeks after the sale at dinner when your friend offhandedly mentions the most amazing Spode teacups she's been wanting, you won't have to tell her you saw them at the sale for a steal, if only you had known...

• Do your research. If you have particular collectibles or other items you're hoping to buy, you'll want to have at least some idea of their value so you can haggle properly. My favorite source for such research is eBay. The sellers and buyers on eBay aren't just your average folks; many of them are very knowledgeable antiques dealers who have been in the business for years. Read the descriptions of items for sale and look at closed auctions to see what the winning bids were. It's fun to do that when you get back, too, to see just how great of a deal you got.

• Get a truck. Even if you're only planning to buy very small items, take a truck. Even if you are POSITIVE you don't want any furniture or large items, take a truck! I can't count how many frazzled cellphone conversations I've overheard in which shoppers are calling all over the greater South trying to find a rental truck. The first year I attended the sale I met a couple who found a bedroom suite like the one the woman's grandmother had way back when, and she simply HAD to have it. Her poor husband had been on the phone for hours trying to find any kind of truck to rent to get the bedroom suite back to Michigan, and the closest thing they could find was a U-Haul--in lower Alabama--seven hours away. It's good to have a truck or SUV for the trip for other reasons, too; many of these sales are in pasture fields--literally--and not all cars can manage the (often muddy) terrain.

• Check your car. You'll be driving in all kinds of terrain, through very rural mountains and on four-lane divided highways. You don't want to spend all your vintage Barbie money on towing fees and a flat tire repair.

• Call your cellphone provider. Make sure that your plan allows for the best coverage in the areas where you'll be traveling. Expect to be roaming most of the time; many providers have pre-paid or other options that can alleviate high off-provider fees.

Most of the restrooms in gas stations and small markets will be marked "out of order" even though they aren't really out of order. These areas simply aren't accustomed to this kind of traffic, and it's something some store owners have to do. So, whether in restaurants where you eat or in other places that you find facilities that you're allowed to use, use them when you see them. There are no "rest areas" on the sale route.

Speaking of gas stations, keep an eye on your fuel tank. Traffic jams aren't unseen on the sale route, and unless you've done the sale several times before, it's hard to know where the next gas station will be.

You'll see lots of food vendors along the route, selling everything from beans and cornbread in a church parking lot to mouth-watering BBQ right off the smoker, not to mention "carnival food" like funnel cakes, cotton candy and candy apples. Get one of whatever it is and split it with a friend so you can get another nibble of something on down the road. Trust me, you'll want to.

And finally, I always say, if you want it and can afford it--and if it will fit at least partially in your truck--buy it! There's not much opportunity for going back for something at this sale.