Southwest Virginia Blogs

I do not regularly use the same pictures on my internet posts.  I try to pick something unique for each site. This morning I ended up using the same shot on Coastalnc.org as I have used in this post.  The picture has such warm tones that it matches the weather, and I could not resist.

I was filling up with gas yesterday, and someone across the pump island asked me if I like this North Carolina winter?  It was pretty hard to respond with anything by a strong yes since I switched back to shorts as my standard clothing yesterday.

I know much of the country has enjoyed some warmer than normal temperatures.  When we have so many other problems to worry about, it is nice to take the weather off the list for a while.  I did notice that my friends in Halifax, Nova Scotia are seeing temperature just around thirty degrees Fahrenheit.   All I can say is that there are plenty of warmer places to flee to this time of year, and the Canadian dollar is strong, so they have no excuse.

It is so bright today that even with a filter on my digital camera, it is hard to get any blue sky.  That kind of problem is the right kind to have.

I do not regularly use the same pictures on my internet posts.  I try to pick something unique for each site. This morning I ended up using the same shot on Coastalnc.org as I have used in this post.  The picture has such warm tones that it matches the weather, and I could not resist.

I was filling up with gas yesterday, and someone across the pump island asked me if I like this North Carolina winter?  It was pretty hard to respond with anything by a strong yes since I switched back to shorts as my standard clothing yesterday.

I know much of the country has enjoyed some warmer than normal temperatures.  When we have so many other problems to worry about, it is nice to take the weather off the list for a while.  I did notice that my friends in Halifax, Nova Scotia are seeing temperature just around thirty degrees Fahrenheit.   All I can say is that there are plenty of warmer places to flee to this time of year, and the Canadian dollar is strong, so they have no excuse.

It is so bright today that even with a filter on my digital camera, it is hard to get any blue sky.  That kind of problem is the right kind to have.

After enjoying this sunrise over Emerald Isle this morning, I picked up the debate on a potential ban on deep sea bottom trawling in an article from Halifax, Nova Scotia's Chronicle Herald.  The article, "Reputation on the line," has this to say.

Federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn has acknowledged trawling damages fish stocks and their environment, but says a ban would be unenforceable and that stronger fisheries management organizations in unregulated areas would be more effective.

"I would like to see Canada take a leadership role on this issue," said Paul Snelgrove, an ecology professor at Memorial University in St. John’s, N.L.

A trawling ban in international waters would not be easy to enforce, but that’s a weak reason to oppose one, Snelgrove said.

It is not unusual to see Canada and the United States on opposite end of an environmental question.  Yet they are in different sides of the issue than what I would have guessed.  I haven't figured out the situation, but I will dig into it.

We need to keep commercial fishermen going strong if possible, but I wonder how much international waters deep sea trawling is done by local fishermen?

I did find one piece of research on the issue, "Potential Impacts of Bottom Trawling on Water Column Productivity and Sediment Transport Processes."  It was funded by the state of North Carolina but does not really address the issue.

As someone who enjoys fishing and throwing them back and ordering fresh local fish off the menu in area eateries, I would like to see someone with the wisdom of Solomon figure this out.

I know we need to protect our wonderful fish nurseries along North Carolina's coast, I am just not smart enough to know the best way to do that yet.

I have seen the California approach, "Sanctuaries for fish, Wildlife panel establishes marine reserves." It may create more problems than it solves.  I was living in Canada when the cod fishery collapsed.  It was not a pretty situation.

Solving our need to use and preserve our marine resources is a huge challenge.

After enjoying this sunrise over Emerald Isle this morning, I picked up the debate on a potential ban on deep sea bottom trawling in an article from Halifax, Nova Scotia's Chronicle Herald.  The article, "Reputation on the line," has this to say.

Federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn has acknowledged trawling damages fish stocks and their environment, but says a ban would be unenforceable and that stronger fisheries management organizations in unregulated areas would be more effective.

"I would like to see Canada take a leadership role on this issue," said Paul Snelgrove, an ecology professor at Memorial University in St. John’s, N.L.

A trawling ban in international waters would not be easy to enforce, but that’s a weak reason to oppose one, Snelgrove said.

It is not unusual to see Canada and the United States on opposite end of an environmental question.  Yet they are in different sides of the issue than what I would have guessed.  I haven't figured out the situation, but I will dig into it.

We need to keep commercial fishermen going strong if possible, but I wonder how much international waters deep sea trawling is done by local fishermen?

I did find one piece of research on the issue, "Potential Impacts of Bottom Trawling on Water Column Productivity and Sediment Transport Processes."  It was funded by the state of North Carolina but does not really address the issue.

As someone who enjoys fishing and throwing them back and ordering fresh local fish off the menu in area eateries, I would like to see someone with the wisdom of Solomon figure this out.

I know we need to protect our wonderful fish nurseries along North Carolina's coast, I am just not smart enough to know the best way to do that yet.

I have seen the California approach, "Sanctuaries for fish, Wildlife panel establishes marine reserves." It may create more problems than it solves.  I was living in Canada when the cod fishery collapsed.  It was not a pretty situation.

Solving our need to use and preserve our marine resources is a huge challenge.

After enjoying this sunrise over Emerald Isle this morning, I picked up the debate on a potential ban on deep sea bottom trawling in an article from Halifax, Nova Scotia's Chronicle Herald.  The article, "Reputation on the line," has this to say.

Federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn has acknowledged trawling damages fish stocks and their environment, but says a ban would be unenforceable and that stronger fisheries management organizations in unregulated areas would be more effective.

"I would like to see Canada take a leadership role on this issue," said Paul Snelgrove, an ecology professor at Memorial University in St. John’s, N.L.

A trawling ban in international waters would not be easy to enforce, but that’s a weak reason to oppose one, Snelgrove said.

It is not unusual to see Canada and the United States on opposite end of an environmental question.  Yet they are in different sides of the issue than what I would have guessed.  I haven't figured out the situation, but I will dig into it.

We need to keep commercial fishermen going strong if possible, but I wonder how much international waters deep sea trawling is done by local fishermen?

I did find one piece of research on the issue, "Potential Impacts of Bottom Trawling on Water Column Productivity and Sediment Transport Processes."  It was funded by the state of North Carolina but does not really address the issue.

As someone who enjoys fishing and throwing them back and ordering fresh local fish off the menu in area eateries, I would like to see someone with the wisdom of Solomon figure this out.

I know we need to protect our wonderful fish nurseries along North Carolina's coast, I am just not smart enough to know the best way to do that yet.

I have seen the California approach, "Sanctuaries for fish, Wildlife panel establishes marine reserves." It may create more problems than it solves.  I was living in Canada when the cod fishery collapsed.  It was not a pretty situation.

Solving our need to use and preserve our marine resources is a huge challenge.

There is little doubt that I am a big barbecue fan.  I have written about a number of barbecue spots like Bastians in Roanoke, Va in my post "Friday night at the Barbecue Joint." Then I wrote about a spot actually called the "Barbecue Joint" located on Weaver Dairy Road near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It was mentioned in my post, "Back to the mountains."

Then there was the visit to Allen & Sons Barbecue, Chapel Hill, NC which was recommended by my friend Cameron.  When I took my real estate broker course in Hickory, NC, I discovered a really great spot, "FireBonz."   I even hauled back barbecue in a cooler to Roanoke a couple of times from Firebonz.

There have been a very few barbecue meals that I didn't consider a success like the one we had at Olde Virginia Barbecue in Rocky Mount, Va.  However, the general rule is that any barbecue is better than no barbecue.  As I said in "Barbecue And More Barbecue," I love barbecue.

Since I have been wandering around North Carolina's Crystal Coast,   I have been suffering from a barbecue drought.  Early one morning on my way to a very useful NC broker post licensing course in Wilmington, I happened to notice a metal roofed building called "The Smokehouse" on the west side of US 17.  I made a note of the mileage, and promised myself if that I had a good day in class that I might stop by and check it out on the way home.

We had one of the most productive days that I have enjoyed in my many real estate classes.  With that as a background, I was on the lookout for The Smokehouse.  I walked in and without even looking at the menu, I asked if they did barbecue by the pound.  The young lady said yes. I ordered a pound with some slaw and two buns.  Complete with tax, the meal came to $9.08.  I did not even have to ask, I got chopped pork.

About forty five minutes after leaving, I backed down our driveway on the east side of the White Oak River in Carteret County with what I hoped would be my first successful capture of real Eastern North Carolina barbecue.

We made our sandwiches, and it did not take Glenda, my wife, and I long to decide that I will be swinging by The Holly Ridge Smokehouse whenever I get a chance in my travels to Wilmington.  The barbecue was very lean with a nice hint of vinegar without being overwhelming.  The slaw was also crunchy and tasty.  The meal was a winner, a great bargain, and there is even enough left for Glenda's lunch tomorrow.

I wonder how their fried chicken is?  There's seems to be a shortage of that also along the Crystal Coast.  The Smokehouse opens early every morning.  If a full parking lot is an indication of good food, their breakfast must be very good.

There is little doubt that I am a big barbecue fan.  I have written about a number of barbecue spots like Bastians in Roanoke, Va in my post "Friday night at the Barbecue Joint." Then I wrote about a spot actually called the "Barbecue Joint" located on Weaver Dairy Road near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It was mentioned in my post, "Back to the mountains."

Then there was the visit to Allen & Sons Barbecue, Chapel Hill, NC which was recommended by my friend Cameron.  When I took my real estate broker course in Hickory, NC, I discovered a really great spot, "FireBonz."   I even hauled back barbecue in a cooler to Roanoke a couple of times from Firebonz.

There have been a very few barbecue meals that I didn't consider a success like the one we had at Olde Virginia Barbecue in Rocky Mount, Va.  However, the general rule is that any barbecue is better than no barbecue.  As I said in "Barbecue And More Barbecue," I love barbecue.

Since I have been wandering around North Carolina's Crystal Coast,   I have been suffering from a barbecue drought.  Early one morning on my way to a very useful NC broker post licensing course in Wilmington, I happened to notice a metal roofed building called "The Smokehouse" on the west side of US 17.  I made a note of the mileage, and promised myself if that I had a good day in class that I might stop by and check it out on the way home.

We had one of the most productive days that I have enjoyed in my many real estate classes.  With that as a background, I was on the lookout for The Smokehouse.  I walked in and without even looking at the menu, I asked if they did barbecue by the pound.  The young lady said yes. I ordered a pound with some slaw and two buns.  Complete with tax, the meal came to $9.08.  I did not even have to ask, I got chopped pork.

About forty five minutes after leaving, I backed down our driveway on the east side of the White Oak River in Carteret County with what I hoped would be my first successful capture of real Eastern North Carolina barbecue.

We made our sandwiches, and it did not take Glenda, my wife, and I long to decide that I will be swinging by The Holly Ridge Smokehouse whenever I get a chance in my travels to Wilmington.  The barbecue was very lean with a nice hint of vinegar without being overwhelming.  The slaw was also crunchy and tasty.  The meal was a winner, a great bargain, and there is even enough left for Glenda's lunch tomorrow.

I wonder how their fried chicken is?  There's seems to be a shortage of that also along the Crystal Coast.  The Smokehouse opens early every morning.  If a full parking lot is an indication of good food, their breakfast must be very good.