Bounty hunting

The 70 Mile Yard Sale is a long-standing Kings County tradition. Aside from a little break when folks were doing a different kind of distancing, it’s been running for 20-odd years. I grew up down that way, in a house full of  “yard sailors,” and nothing sounded like a worse time than weaving through the countryside all day with my family. I think they might have forced me along one year, and I’m sure we all equally regretted it. Funny thing though, I married a yard sale bandit and have since changed my tune. 

Yes, I have been converted. I am one of those people now. Getting up at 7 am, driving around right slow, hawk-eyeing, bolting across the highway, lining up on the shoulder of every narrow road the eastern end has to offer. I even tried my hand at haggling over prices this year for the first time! My kids will be much better at it than me someday—we’ve been dragging them along since they were babies. Although they do take up precious space for finds, they love the outing, so it’s worth the trade-off.

I did notice this year that a lot of the bigger setups we’d normally stop at weren’t participating or had quite a few less vendors. It gave us the opportunity to check out other places we hadn’t hit in previous years though. Like a place in Vernon River where I scored a sweet rocking chair and lost my wallet. All was returned, though! A lovely woman found me online, and we both happened to be in Wood Islands at the same time to meet up. 

As someone who’s been converted into the yard sale life, and as someone who once despised the whole idea of it, I have tips. First of all, if you’re not interested in taking in the sales, leave way earlier than you need to be somewhere or just cancel all your plans and stay home. It’s bedlam out there. The rules of the road do not apply on 70 Mile weekend, and if you’re not one of us, you know you hate us. Just avoid it. It’s not worth it.

For those of you who think maybe you’d like to have a go for their first time, well that first bit also applies to you. Go early. It’s as long of a haul as you want it to be. Make sure your vehicle is cleared all the way out—space is precious. Go with a list in mind. There are lots of great deals out there, but where are you putting it when you get home? 

Probably most important, drive slowly around where vehicles are parked or people have tables out. No one wants to be rear-ended, and not every pedestrian is very wise. 

And finally, only take people who are fun and interested. No one needs a fun sponge sucking the life out of the day. I speak as a once-fun-sponge turned yard sale bandit.