She-She goes on the road with ‘Longest Yard Sale’
Published 11:00 pm Monday, July 30, 2012
Popular TroyFest folk artist, She-She Vaughn, is taking her art and stories on the road this week.
She will be one of hundreds – no, thousands – of vendors who participate in the four-day World’s Longest Yard Sale Aug. 2-5.
The yard sale trail begins in Gadsden and ends 675 miles up the road at Hudson, Mich. or the other way around, depending on where you start.
Those who start at the southern end of the route will travel the 93-mile Lookout Mountain Parkway from Gadsden to Chattanooga, which is considered the most scenic rural America route.
Alabama has more than 1,000 yard sale vendors that will offer everything, including antiques, collectibles, furniture, dishware, garden produce, homemade jams and jellies, food vendors, live entertainment and more, if you can believe there could be more, She-She said.
“I’m going to rent a Penske van that will be both my vehicle and my home during the World’s Largest Yard said,” said She-She, who is recovering from a serious head injury. “I’ll be located in the Mentone Campground which is on Highway 117 that connects Alabama to Georgia.”
She-She said that she prefers to be a step or two off the beaten path.
“The campground is an ideal location for me,” she said. “A lot of people will set up there and that makes it easier for shoppers. They can stop at one location and visit 50 or more vendors rather than making 50 stops to visit 50 vendors. The campground is in a wooded area and it’s comfortable walking.”
She-She said the fun and excitement of the World Longest Yard Sale is not knowing what’s around the next corner or on the next table.
“People are looking for all different kinds of things to buy and some are just looking,” She-She said. “I’ve been doing this for a long time and I’ve only met two couples that have made the whole ‘long drive.’ People come from all over the United States and from other countries to participate in this yard sale. They will fly in and rent a moving van to load up all of their found treasures.”
One of She-She’s paintings was purchased at the World’s Longest Yard Sale and ended up on celebrity chef Rachael Ray’s television show.
“The painting was of a tomato and it wasn’t even during Alabama’s Year of the Food,” She-She said laughing.
However, the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel is again highlighting Alabama food by bringing back the 2012 Year of Alabama Food. She-She will support the promotion with her bold and beautiful paintings of “food and fish.”
She-She said she is looking forward to being a part of the World’s Longest Yard Sale even if she is going to put down and stay down.
“I’ll ‘homestead’ at the Mentone Campground and there will be tons of traffic through there as people veer off Highway 127 onto the road less traveled to see what’s around the next bend because you never know. It could be a valuable antique or a pile of junk. But it’s fun to look and fun to be part of such a huge event like this.”
She-She said most people only travel a short distance on the trail because there’s so much to see and do and only days to do it.”
She-She said that she highly recommends the World’s Longest Yard Sale for those who like to bargain hunt or doing something different.
“It’s a long drive but you’ll never be a part of anything else like it,” she said. “So, if you’re looking for a fun and interesting way to spend a day or two, come along with us.”