Where else can you combine whale-watching with bargain-hunting but at the Great Strait Sale, set for the seventh year, this Saturday?
Along the 61 miles of the sale along state Highway 112 are beautiful scenery, restaurants, art galleries, museums and — on Saturday only from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — three community garage sales and uncounted private sales.
“It’s not like a typical garage sale,” said organizer Sande Balch, who serves on the board of the Juan de Fuca Scenic Byway Association, which sponsors the annual sale.
“You’re going on one of the most scenic drives we have in Clallam County,” Balch said.
“You can stop and have a latte or explore an art store or museum. There are a lot of things to do even if you don’t want to hike.”
Community sales
Community sales are at the Joyce Depot Museum parking lot, the Clallam Bay Visitor Center (next to the Clallam County Park) and the Village Market in Neah Bay next to Washburn’s General Store.
Balch expects some 25 to 30 people at the Joyce gathering and perhaps 10 each in Clallam Bay and Neah Bay.
“It’s almost like a big flea market,” Balch said.
“Everyone hangs around and visits. It gets to be an enjoyable afternoon.”
Signs for private garage sales will dot the highway, and several businesses are offering specials.
The Elwha RV Park will have antique furniture, kitchenware and old books for sale, while a Freshwater Bay family is selling a wood cook stove and saddle among other items in a downsizing sale, and the Chito Beach Resort is selling two kayaks and a refrigerator.
Shops such as Strait Shots Espresso, Sunsets West Co-op and the Breakwater Inn in Clallam Bay offer deals for the thirsty and hungry.
The Joyce Fire Station will offer hot dogs and free tours in a community appreciation open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“The annual Great Strait Sale continues to grow in the number of sellers and buyers,” Balch said.
The first couple of years, the event was a bit slow, she said, but by the third year, Balch, who also coordinates the Joyce Community Sale, counted 75 cars in the parking lot at one time.
And it’s stayed popular ever since, she said.
“The nicer the weather, the more people turn out for the event,” she adding, saying that “we’ve never been rained out.”
Whale Trail
Along Highway 112, which follows the curves of the shoreline of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, are several of the Whale Trail signs, such as those at Freshwater Bay, Salt Creek Recreation Area and Cape Flattery, where visitors can see pristine beaches and the waters of the Strait and perhaps catch sight of whales, harbor seals, otters and eagles.
All the attractions are free. The only charge has been for those who advertised in the fliers. That $10 fee helps the association pay for the printing of fliers and signs, Balch said.
“We just about break even,” she said.
The association launched the event so that “everybody on the scenic byway could participate at the same event at one time and to encourage people who live in the area to come over and drive that road — with an excuse for going all the way to the end,” Balch said.
“We want to get people out there to see the scenic byway.”
Fliers with a map of some of the many sales are available at Coco’s Market at Laird’s Corner on U.S. Highway 101 just before the turnoff to Highway 112 or at community garage sales along the way.
The fliers also can be printed off the association’s website at www.highway112.org.
“In general, we want to invite all of our neighbors to this event for block-party fun while the sellers make a little money and the buyers find some treasures,” Balch said.
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Managing Editor/News Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3531 or at leah.leach@peninsuladailynews.com.
