We went once by accident. It was actually about a week before the sale started and we were on our way to Indiana. Since we both prefer to travel back roads rather than interstates, we routed the trip to sort of follow I-65. There were already vendors set up in the fields along the road (forget what the road number is) and just about as much traffic as the interstate. If we'd had time, it would've been fun to stop at some.

Have a great time--hope you find lots of bargains!

Last year was the 1st time in years I haven't gone. The year before I realized that the misery I was in (heat) did not justify the amount of fun I was having..and I said that's IT! NO MORE!

I really wish they'd move it to early Fall! I'm in Gadsden, so a friend and I always drove up about 50-60 miles to Mentone (a piece of Heaven on earth) and would shop our way back. One time it took us 14hrs. to travel 45 miles!:(.

Thanks Patti - we're gonna try. It's amazing how many people set up tables along the roadside and in fields isn't it?

And yes, County Bumpkin it is extremely hot. We drink plenty of water and wear those horrible looking neck cooling scarfs, but they do help. I wish it was in the Fall too (why did they pick August you think?) We also carry a cooler with home-made chicken salad and fruit, and a loaf of bread. At least we have something cold to eat and drink which also seems to help. But the heat is definately the hardest part of the trip, I agree.

I've been, number of years back.

Bought a fig cutting and now it's producing figs.

Hot hot hot.

We ended at Noccalula Falls.

Hoovergal...I think the original date(s) were picked because they didn't interfere with the starting of school(s)in Sept.. That isn't the case anymore. Most schools start in early August now. The Sale is always the 1st FULL weekend in August. I remember one year school had already started here and it was awful for the school buses on Noccalula Mountain trying to drive in the traffic and get the kids to school. Noccalula Falls is where the Sale starts/ends, depending on which way you're going! lol

We started up around Ft Payne, and hit the back roads to Noccalula.

I'd love to go but its too far.

It runs through our little town but I've only been shopping once. I can't stand the traffic and people stopping suddenly on a 55 mph road to look at something.

I grew up in Crossville, hate that this started after I left. I have a friend that goes every year, I am tempted but have no room for anything else:(

That's it Crossville, where we started from instead of Ft Payne.

My sister lives in Gadsden.

We actually drive from Birmingham to Frankfort, KY on Wednesday and shop our way home. Like Kathsgrdn said, many people just stop in the road to look at things. You cannot do that - it's too dangerous and not respectful of others. Granted, you cannot stop at every one and you have to pick and choose where to stop. Some churches and volunteer organizations offer free or $1 parking or the use of their bathrooms for a donation. We always stop at their sites.

hoovergal, do you live in Birrmingham?

I live around 280.

If so, that makes 4 of us that live in Birmingham area, that I know of.

I'll never forget a "chruch" where we stopped. We were about to die of thirst and I asked it they had bottled water! Lady told me no...but they had cups of water and held up one of those little styrofoam coffee cups! Then she told me it was $2.50 a cup and that was with NO ice!!
At least I had the choice of getting robbed or not! Just on the principle...I believe I would have passed out from thirst before I paid that.
Made such an impression on me, I wouldn't attend a wedding or funeral in that church....much less go there on Sunday!

Glenda, yes I do live in Birmingham. I live on Hwy 119 near I-65. I've only recently started posting here and I really enjoy visiting this site. I initially started coming to gardenweb for the gardening advise - but this site is definately better!

County Bumpkin, I cannot believe a church actually did that. I guess we've been fortunate because we have met some incredibly nice people on our stops. We did; however, stay in the worst hotel I have ever seen in the middle of nowhere in Kentucky. This particular hotel is near a large lake and must be used primarily for fishermen. Our room was very tired and dated, but it was the flies that scared us the most. We can only assume that the housekeeper left the door open while she cleaned the room and boy did the flies come on it. I must have killed a dozen or so before I saw one buzzing around inside the coffee pot - yucky! We were exhausted and there were no other rooms but we did seriously consider sleeping in our car that night. At that point all we could do is laugh. Just as soon as I thought I had killed them all another one would come out of nowhere and buzz us. But there was no way I would go to sleep until I killed them all. We hardly touched anything in that room and we brushed our teeth with bottled water. I have no idea how they stay in business.

I really enjoy hitting a few yard sales on a Saturday morning but that sounds like too much of a good thing to me. After just a couple of hours of my typical yard sale activity, with most of the time spent sitting and driving from one sale to the next, I am tuckered out. Of course, I usually have Dan with me - minding a 3 year old while yard saling takes a great deal of effort (at least this particular 3 year old). I am actually happy to hit even just one good sale every week.

I cross 119 several times a week to eat in Pelham. Loui's and Sarris restaurant.

Gary and I would love to go... but I checked mapquest and even though we live in MI and the northern part of the longest yard sale starts in MI, it's over a 10 hour drive from here to where it starts!! Way too far.

I would never like to do that. I will go to yard sales but only a few. There's a place not far from here that has a mother's day weekend garage sale. It is very big. I've been to that once and I will never go back (unless my daughter talks me into it someday.)

Hoovergal, my DD lives in Hoover. I haven't seen you here but I'm not here much anymore. Welcome. You will have to join Glenda and me sometime for lunch.

DD and I went a few years ago before she had any kids. I would love to do it again but not this year. We are moving from Georgia to Remlap, AL the following week. DD is moving there too. I'd love to go next year.

Linda

Ooh - yard sales, horrific traffic, and sweltering heat.

Nope, couldn't pay me for that torture.

mary_c, that's why I only did it ONCE

Hoovergal, I live 10 minutes from Frankfort!

Hoovergal, I think we stayed at that motel once! LOL! The one we stayed in was also in Kentucky, but south of Elizabethtown. Oh what an experience. But the sheets were clean and we were tired. Gives me the shivers to think about it.

Linda, good luck with your move. It's a pain but I'd do it if I could move into your new home!

this is the first year for mi, according to the official site....wonder if we might go? dh isn't really into yard sales, lol...

Thanks, Patti. Let's see how much I like it when I have to clean it. It's more than twice as big as the one we're in now!!

Linda

Well Linda, ya' know MOST people retire and downsize. Didn't you get the memo? LOL! You will enjoy it with the grandkids close.

I'm sorry, Hoovergal. I switched topics and that's a no-no. I apologize.

Patti, we did downsize about 10 years ago. I'm ready for some space again.

Linda

Now Linda will have room for an overnight visitor, ME :o)

Sure, Glenda, Come on up.

Linda

About Yard sales: Its a good place to pick up "old" pyrex glass ware. The old stuff is superior to that of later manufacture. I don't recall the exact date, do an on-line search to find out, it may have been in the 1970s when Corning sold their glassware business. They sold the Pyrex trademark, designs, and molds. The new maker continued to make baking ware with the pyrex symbol, but decided the original glass was too expensive. They changed to a lower performing glass and covered their bases with some instructions in the product package. Once, the packing material is gone, the danger begins.

The old pyrex formulation had a very low index of thermal expansion within the temperature range of normal cooking processes. It could withstand a certain amount of thermal shock without shattering - Not so with the newer material. The new stuff is not much better than ordinary glass and will shatter if cold water hits a hot dish. Also, it will shatter if a cold dish is placed on a flame (spot heating).

Go for the old pyrex; Its the good stuff. The country of manufacture may be a clue for sorting the old from new.

For those of you that have a FaceBook, you can go "LIKE: their FAceBook page and read all about the sale on their FaceBook!

Here is a link that might be useful: 127 Sale

I never can find out when and where it is until someone posts about i after !!!!