AURORA - From Montezuma to Homer, from afghan sweaters to zebra dolls, the annual Route 90 Fifty-Mile Long Garage Sale brought out everyone from bargain hunters to antique collectors this weekend.

As with previous years, sellers said business was better on Saturday than it was on Sunday, but nearly everyone agreed attendance was up from last year, and most notched sales better than expected.

There were all types of goods being sold between Cayuga and King Ferry. And along nearby side roads such as Route 34B and Sherwood Road, there was a particularly strong concentration of tents and booths - both experienced dealers and others who just cleared out their attic or garage.

Chuck and Sherry Campbell were relaxing under a good-size tent with their two children, Rebecca and Lillian. Some friends were also there, along with a dozen others who pulled in to check out the merchandise or wave as they passed.

Working as the head engineer at Wells College, Chuck and his family live directly across the street from the southern end of Wells College.�The Campbells. several years ago, spent the weekend making the entire Route 90 trek from Town of Montezuma to the Village of Homer, and decided to try their hand at sales this year.

On Saturday, they put a respectable $180 into their money box.

“Yesterday was really busy,” the Campbells replied in near unison. Their only disappointment was poor sales for their Russel Wright dinnerware. Highly collectible, and highly colorful, the American Modern dishes were not down even a single unit, Sherry said, but she wasn't very upset. She and her children continued to give out ice-cold bottles of water, charging just 50 cents to some but giving nearly as much out gratis to thirsty senior citizens and others in needs of some refreshment.

Two miles away, Melissa Hart and her boyfriend, Brian Hulme, were relaxing in lawn chairs as customers browsed in front of Hart's home. Hart has been working for the past few weeks on crafts for the sale, painted signs and flat stones. Those sold pretty well, but not nearly as briskly as her father John's old hunting gear - clothes, boots, gun parts and more. The take for Saturday was $360.

“I was surprised,” she said.�Bonnie Elwell was pleased with the fair prices being offered mid-Sunday afternoon, many of the booths sporting large 󈬢 Percent Off” signs. She bought two beaded bracelets for just $1 from Hart, and a wooden hummingbird toy from another nearby dealer for just 25 cents.

Nearby, Tom Kanally of Cortland was in a jovial mood.

“It's more social than anything. We're not serious about the money,” said Kanally, who was enjoying the pleasant weather with his niece, Theresa Brill, and his friend, Jay O'Hearn. “I just sell things that are interesting and fun.”Kanally's collection of modestly-priced brewery collectables, old bottles and fishing tackle was displayed with wares of several others in front of O'Hearn's home about one-half mile north of the Aurora Inn on the lake side of Route 90.

While the Campbells, Kanallys and Hart on this day were the norm with their friendly smiles and sunny dispositions, there is still plenty of folks who were looking to find a treasure in the proverbial garage-sale haystack.

A couple of years ago, Delma Thompson of Chenango County saw a picture that looked “distinctive. It caught my eye, so I went to take a closer look.”�It was a print by someone named Bruno Bruni and was of a couple with their faces turned, a red rose in the foreground.

Seeing it was signed, Thompson took the plunge and spent $1 on the modestly-framed picture. Once home, she saw that it was signed #3 out of 150, and after some research, she believes that if her picture is an authentic print from the well-known Italian artist it could fetch $500 or more.

A lithograph might be worth thousands.�Not too shabby for shelling out just eight bits.�“I got a good deal, there's no doubt about that,” she said.