Montebello Fish Hatchery, Spy Mountain
Nov. 18th, 2003 12:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rootofnewtLast weekend, boy and I went to Montebello Fish Hatchery down in Nelson County.
They had lots of trout: big trout, rainbow trout and spotted trout, medium trout, and little trout.
It was oddly picturesque--the concrete troughs cascading down the gentle slope with a few trees, while mountains rose around us. Sadly, we might have visited on the last day or two it was open--I need to find out if the state closed the program for good. :(
Why can't they spend money on useful things? Why waste money fighting "terrorism" when our schools are suffering. And the hatchery is what helps the streams and the James River stay stocked and stocked rivers are what draw tourists/fishermen/vacationers. Tourists spend money. But no... we have to cut state programs and spend money on things which will have no positive lingering value. Hell, I wouldn't care how much the state spends on stupid stuff if they'd at least give more money to education every once in awhile. Raise the damn tobacco tax! Give that money to schools, hospitals, and the department of natural resources.
I should mention that the budget for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has not historically come from tax revenues. It comes from the sales of game licenses, admission fees, etc. In other words, the budget was cut, although the department PAYS FOR ITSELF. This is what pisses me off, I guess. And for the record, I'd have no problem paying a small fee to visit the hatchery if that meant it would remain open to the public... after all, we happily signed the guest book and bought food to feed the fishies. Fish hatcheries play a crucial role in culture and local economy and I'll wholeheartedly support that, even though I don't fish, nor do I eat fish.
Anyhow, boy was quite happy to visit the fish hatchery. I thought he'd like it--he loves fish and he'd never been to a hatchery before.
We chatted with the warden, who happens to be a retired photographer. He commented on my "fancy" camera (digital) and mentioned he needed to unload his old equipment, but didn't know where to start as he wasn't sure he wanted to try ebay. I suggested he place ads in local university papers, which reminded him that a buddy of his teaches at UVA or JMU, so he seemed pretty happy and thanked me for the suggestion. Hey, students still need to learn non-digital photography, so he may as well look there. :)
After looking at the fishies, we headed up to the parkway to have a picnic lunch on Spy Mountain. The spot has a grassy (mowed) knob, which is quite nice for relaxing. The view is about 360 degrees, though there are some trees to the northeast which can block the view when one sits down. It's nice, though, makes one feel less exposed.
It was chilly (50s), so I stayed wrapped up in my cloak while I read. The black wool absorbs heat nicely. mmm, inversion.
They had lots of trout: big trout, rainbow trout and spotted trout, medium trout, and little trout.
It was oddly picturesque--the concrete troughs cascading down the gentle slope with a few trees, while mountains rose around us. Sadly, we might have visited on the last day or two it was open--I need to find out if the state closed the program for good. :(
Why can't they spend money on useful things? Why waste money fighting "terrorism" when our schools are suffering. And the hatchery is what helps the streams and the James River stay stocked and stocked rivers are what draw tourists/fishermen/vacationers. Tourists spend money. But no... we have to cut state programs and spend money on things which will have no positive lingering value. Hell, I wouldn't care how much the state spends on stupid stuff if they'd at least give more money to education every once in awhile. Raise the damn tobacco tax! Give that money to schools, hospitals, and the department of natural resources.
I should mention that the budget for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has not historically come from tax revenues. It comes from the sales of game licenses, admission fees, etc. In other words, the budget was cut, although the department PAYS FOR ITSELF. This is what pisses me off, I guess. And for the record, I'd have no problem paying a small fee to visit the hatchery if that meant it would remain open to the public... after all, we happily signed the guest book and bought food to feed the fishies. Fish hatcheries play a crucial role in culture and local economy and I'll wholeheartedly support that, even though I don't fish, nor do I eat fish.
Anyhow, boy was quite happy to visit the fish hatchery. I thought he'd like it--he loves fish and he'd never been to a hatchery before.
We chatted with the warden, who happens to be a retired photographer. He commented on my "fancy" camera (digital) and mentioned he needed to unload his old equipment, but didn't know where to start as he wasn't sure he wanted to try ebay. I suggested he place ads in local university papers, which reminded him that a buddy of his teaches at UVA or JMU, so he seemed pretty happy and thanked me for the suggestion. Hey, students still need to learn non-digital photography, so he may as well look there. :)
After looking at the fishies, we headed up to the parkway to have a picnic lunch on Spy Mountain. The spot has a grassy (mowed) knob, which is quite nice for relaxing. The view is about 360 degrees, though there are some trees to the northeast which can block the view when one sits down. It's nice, though, makes one feel less exposed.
It was chilly (50s), so I stayed wrapped up in my cloak while I read. The black wool absorbs heat nicely. mmm, inversion.
