Cycling
Let’s Ride Bikes!
The U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) connects cyclists to 19,000 miles of routes in 34 states and Washington, D.C. This growing national network of bicycle routes ranges from rural county roads to bustling urban trails, many of them marked by signs. Created with public input, U.S. Bicycle Routes direct bicyclists to a preferred route through a city, county, or state, creating opportunities for people everywhere to bicycle for travel, transportation, and recreation. The network is developing via partnerships between transportation agencies, bicycle and trail organizations, and volunteers. Network growth is promoted by the Adventure Cycling Association, and maps and information can be found at adventurecycling.org.
Go, Team!
The Ultimate Tailgate Experience
Good food, good friends, and a nearby RV with a full kitchen and bathroom help to create a successful tailgating event.
We can’t think of a better way to host a tailgate party in the parking lot of your favorite sports stadium or arena than in an RV. After all, the RV comes equipped with a full kitchen for serving up yummy eats; a clean bathroom with no waiting in line; A/C or heat in case the weather doesn’t cooperate on game day; power for watching pregame coverage or earlier games on TV; and so much more.
The “RV Roundup” in this issue focuses on RVs that lend themselves to enjoying this pregame tradition in style. So, we thought we’d share some tailgating tips here.
Do your research ahead of time to determine where RVs are allowed to park, what size RVs can be accommodated, and whether spots need to be reserved. In addition to parking info, find out what the plan is for exiting after the game. If permitted, hang out for a while afterward and wait for the crowds to clear. Check the facility’s website for rules and other information, or call in advance to ask.
Since most stadiums don’t offer RV hookups, prepare to dry camp. Fill the fresh-water tank in advance and arrive with empty waste holding tanks; ensure that you have enough propane if needed for cooking, or for heat; and make sure you have power options — generator, solar, etc.
Arrive early on game day to get a good spot and allow time to set up. Find out what time the gates open, though.
Prep food in advance as much as possible. Even if you love cooking and serving guests, you’ll want to have some time to just hang out with the other fans.
Bring outdoor games to keep guests entertained while you wait for the main event.
Don’t forget the decorations! Show your team spirit by decking out your space with team colors and gear.
When it’s time to depart, spot- check the area to ensure you aren’t leaving anything behind, including trash. Whenever possible, leave your space better than you found it.
For more tailgating tips and some recipe ideas, check out Family RV Association’s “Tailgate With Your RV” Pinterest page (Pinterest.com; search for Family RV Association) and the “RV Tailgating Guide” article in the September/October 2024 issue of Family RVing. And for all things tailgating, visit tailgatermagazine.com.
Cheers to a great season!
Travel Stop
Connections To Collections
By Josephine Matyas, F468364
The Great Wall of China at Replacements Ltd. showcases 500 of the most popular china pieces in the company’s collection.
In 1981, Bob Page said goodbye to his job as a state auditor and turned full-time to what had been a weekend hobby: scouring flea markets for pieces of crystal, silverware, and fine china; organizing them in his home workspace; and building a thriving business, one cherished piece at a time.
Four decades later, Page’s attic venture has blossomed into Replacements Ltd. The Greensboro, North Carolina, business boasts the world’s largest inventory of old and new china/dinnerware, crystal, and silver.
One step through the front doors and visitors stand open-mouthed at a showroom and warehouse the size of eight football fields, where row after row of tall shelving artfully displays hundreds of thousands of pieces, from one-of-a-kind collectibles to samples representing more than 450,000 patterns.
It’s sentiment that drives many people to connect with Replacements Ltd. They may be looking for pieces of grandmother’s place settings that hold sweet memories of many holiday dinners. Replacements Ltd.’s expertise is in hunting down cherished tableware — its knowledgeable staff can type out a computer search to identify and find those missing pieces. In the warehouse, skilled restoration workers clean, polish, and repair slightly damaged pieces to pristine, original condition.
With the Pattern Identification Service, research staff will do the grunt work (at no charge to the customer), identify the pattern, and then search stock on hand and even look further afield to find an elusive piece. The Replacements Ltd. website includes a large image library, a “Find This For Me” search service, as well as pattern identification tools.
The warehouse contains more than 13 million pieces that have been carefully inspected and inventoried — in addition to chinaware, it houses more than 65,000 crystal patterns and 50,000 patterns of flatware. And should you have pieces you are interested in selling, the staff can help guide you through the process.
Regardless of whether you are on the hunt for something specific, a stop at this table-setting dreamland is well worth adding to your North Carolina road trip. The showroom’s hallway is home to the Great Wall of China, a long wall of glass-fronted cases that display a collection of the 500 most popular china pieces, as well as top crystal and silver patterns. The museum showcases an extensive collection of more than 2,000 historical pieces and rare tableware.
The showroom and warehouse are an easy exit off Interstate 85, just east of Greensboro. Plenty of free parking can accommodate RVs. Entry is free, and visitors can take guided tours of the backroom warehouse.
For more info, visit www.replacements.com.