Early start as the Conference begins at 8 am. Breakfast in the Club lounge with view overlooking Nashville – complimentary continental breakfast. I could get used to this….
The morning session was a mixture of papers and awards. During the session I bumped into the redoubtable Professor Ian Cowx (as you do).
Lunch is not part of the arrangements here so I went for a walk and bumped into Bob Curry, Chief of the North Carolina Wildlife Commission and we went to Jacks for lunch. The barbecued pork and beans were delicious but I dread to think what I will weigh on my return.
In the afternoon there were 16 parallel sessions – after some thought I went for the one on Fish Passage. There was some really interesting stuff on upstream and downstream migration. The final paper outlined current developments in turbine design, including modified Kaplan turbines to make them more fish friendly – by reducing the gap between the blade and the turbine, and by increasing the thickness of the blade. Testing is currently planned for 2010-2011.
The trade show and poster session are now open, and tonight I’m off to the Trade show social. After that I will probably be going to BB Kings Blues club, which has been recommended as the place to go….
Monday, 31 August 2009
Sunday, 30 August 2009
Busy Sunday...
Woke early and went to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. My waiter was probably the most un-emotional person I’ve ever met – in fact, he may even have been a robot. How-are-you-today…..would-you-like-the-buffet….do-you-want-coffee….decided to demonstrate Britishness by making bacon butties…very nice.
Walked off the breakfast calories by another sight seeing walk around downtown Nashville – past the state capitol, war memorial and public parks. Even though it was Sunday morning, some of the honky tonk bars were open and playing music.
Returned to the hotel to prepare for my brief addresses to the two AFS meetings this afternoon – Fisheries Administration and Fisheries Management. Haven’t seen anyone I know yet – and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of attendees here –but early days. Everyone seems to carry laptops round with them under their arms and sit picking up emails.
This afternoon I was invited to speak at the Fisheries Administration section and later at the Fisheries Management Section. The latter was better attended. I gave the attendees a brief overview of fisheries issues in the UK - the Water Framework directive, salmon, legislation changes, hydropwer and the funding issues together with the uncertain political situation.
It was interesting that throughout both meetings I picked up common threads - fisheries professionals in the US have the same sort of issues as we do in the UK, which makes these exchanges all the more important to maintain. I was made very welcome at both meetings, and renewed my acquaintance with Ron Essig (who attended IFM in 2008), Dale Burkitt (2007) and Fred Harris (2001). I also met Bob Curry who will be attending Stratford.
So now I am sitting in the Bridge Bar, listening to some lovely alto saxophone playing and waiting for the Welcome social which starts in the Grand Ballroom later, and then moves on to to the Ryman Auditorium where there will be music...its a hard life....
Walked off the breakfast calories by another sight seeing walk around downtown Nashville – past the state capitol, war memorial and public parks. Even though it was Sunday morning, some of the honky tonk bars were open and playing music.
Returned to the hotel to prepare for my brief addresses to the two AFS meetings this afternoon – Fisheries Administration and Fisheries Management. Haven’t seen anyone I know yet – and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of attendees here –but early days. Everyone seems to carry laptops round with them under their arms and sit picking up emails.
This afternoon I was invited to speak at the Fisheries Administration section and later at the Fisheries Management Section. The latter was better attended. I gave the attendees a brief overview of fisheries issues in the UK - the Water Framework directive, salmon, legislation changes, hydropwer and the funding issues together with the uncertain political situation.
It was interesting that throughout both meetings I picked up common threads - fisheries professionals in the US have the same sort of issues as we do in the UK, which makes these exchanges all the more important to maintain. I was made very welcome at both meetings, and renewed my acquaintance with Ron Essig (who attended IFM in 2008), Dale Burkitt (2007) and Fred Harris (2001). I also met Bob Curry who will be attending Stratford.
So now I am sitting in the Bridge Bar, listening to some lovely alto saxophone playing and waiting for the Welcome social which starts in the Grand Ballroom later, and then moves on to to the Ryman Auditorium where there will be music...its a hard life....
Saturday, 29 August 2009
I've always wanted to visit Detroit...part 2
I was woken up at 6am by some plonker ringing my mobile...couldnt get back to sleep (probably a good thing) so got up, showered and went into airport - special entrance from hotel with its own security check etc. Purchased toiletries and change of clothes. Checked out of hotel, checked flight gate and went for delicious breakfast of texas french toast nearby. Flight was on time, and half full, good flight and we arrived on time at 10.40 local.
I was met by Chuck Coutant of the AFS - I had rung him yesterday to let him know what had happened and my revised schedule. One question remained...where was my case? Went to US Airways office -no one there but the case had arrived (miracle!). Found helpful US Airways person who told me the bag had arrived last night (!!) at midnight -so there was a flight!!
Chuck drove me to the hotel, where I registered with the Conference and checked in to the hotel. I had been booked into a club class suite on the 24th floor (which was nice as they say on the Fast show)...special access in the lift...wow. And what a stunning view from my room...pictures to follow!
Unpacking provided another unpleasant suprise....the case had been open in one corner and some of my clothes were soaking....perhaps the bag had been left out in the rain on the runway?
As the conference doesn't start until Monday, took the afternoon to stroll round Nashville. What a fantastic place...bars everywhere., all with live bands playing. Got backto the hotel to find a mini demonstration outside - pro and anti health care reform, etc - apparently there is a big democratic meeting on here today....
I was met by Chuck Coutant of the AFS - I had rung him yesterday to let him know what had happened and my revised schedule. One question remained...where was my case? Went to US Airways office -no one there but the case had arrived (miracle!). Found helpful US Airways person who told me the bag had arrived last night (!!) at midnight -so there was a flight!!
Chuck drove me to the hotel, where I registered with the Conference and checked in to the hotel. I had been booked into a club class suite on the 24th floor (which was nice as they say on the Fast show)...special access in the lift...wow. And what a stunning view from my room...pictures to follow!
Unpacking provided another unpleasant suprise....the case had been open in one corner and some of my clothes were soaking....perhaps the bag had been left out in the rain on the runway?
As the conference doesn't start until Monday, took the afternoon to stroll round Nashville. What a fantastic place...bars everywhere., all with live bands playing. Got backto the hotel to find a mini demonstration outside - pro and anti health care reform, etc - apparently there is a big democratic meeting on here today....
I've always wanted to visit Detroit-part 1
The flight from Manchester to Philadelphia was long and uneventful. The in flight movies ranged from Monsters Inc (Ok, had to have a look as Billy Crystal was one of the voices) but soon got bored. First film I watched was…er…Watchmen…Really good – dark, brooding and worth watching again. Tried Pink Panther 2 –a remake with Steve Martin trying to follow the great Peter Sellers…really, shouldn’t have bothered…dire. Ended up watching Star Trek (the prequel) again –and found it better second time round.
Even the lunch was, dare I say it tasty…some sort of sweet and sour chicken thing – but I was so hungry it just disappeared…I was especially delighted to see it was accompanied by broccoli…
So we landed in Philly, on time, smooth. First stop –immigration. Up to now I thought the person requirement for a US Border Guard was sociopath/miserable/depressed. To my surprise the chap who saw me was actually pleasant…bit spooky being called by my first name by a complete stranger but I suppose they do that for a reason…
And so through to baggage claim (I naively thought the bag would magically be routed through to the onward flight…wrong. So I waited to collect…and waited. About to give up when I spotted the case – it was off the belt and stood opposite me (who did that?). Starting to worry now as less than 1 hour t flight and Philly is a BIG airport.
I’ll explain now before things get complicated. There are 6 terminals at Philly, A through to F. I arrived at A and my Nashville flight was departing from F. You can walk/get the moving walkway between A,B,C,D and E but there is a shuttle bus to get you from A to F (i.e. it’s a LONG way…). So I got the shuttle to terminal F. Made my way to the gate…no plane in sight.
When it got to departure time they announced that the flight was cancelled due to the wrong sort of rain on the runway or something…actually it was a hurricane moving through further south…we were told to go to ‘special services’ to get re-booked. Cue rush for queue….waited in line for a while then US Airways person told all of us for Nashville to go BACK to the gate to get our re-booked tickets…whoopee! Waited while list read out, my name not there (along with a few US so it wasn’t an anti Brit thing…). We were told to go back to special services…cue rush (queue rush?)…this time US Airways person handed out phone number to ring to get re booked…did so (thinking of cost!)..eventually got through and helpful US airways person eventually (after 25 minutes…ouch!) said she had re booked me on a Delta airways flight to Detroit (!!) which connected with a Nashville flight at 9pm…told me to go to terminal A (Delta terminal)….got so far then she said to go back as needed US Airways to print out boarding cards….found helpful person who wrote the flight numbers down…Delta 3236 to Detroit…feeling good now…
Off to Terminal A because…that’s where Delta flies from isn’t it?
So I took the shuttle to terminal A, went to see Delta person…but she sent me to US Airways to print out the boarding card. But they sent me back..a few times bouncing between the two until I found a US Airways person who printed out my ticket ref….for NW Airlines…but it was due to leave from…Terminal E. So I walked from A to E (yes, through B, C,AND D…I now know Philly airport very well….
Got to E (slightly perspiring given that the flight was due to leave in 30 minutes)…Delta 3236 was listed but no gate. There was a NW flight from gate E4. To cut a long story short, eventually made it to E4 and presented my voucher…blank looks. Persisted and the lass put the magic number into the computer and hey!!!I was on!!
Relax, I thought, downhill from here…how wrong can you be? When we taxied out to take off, the pilot informed us that there were 20 (yes 20 planes-and I counted them!) ahead of us in the queue…eventually took off at 7.40..for a flight of 1 hour 10….I could make the connection!
It seemed to take ages to get down to land at Detroit, and then to taxi but sprinted off the plane at 5 to 9 to find…the gate was closed!! The plane was still there…but the doors were locked. Burst into tears. No I didn’t because I am a MAN and we don’t do that sort of thing….
Off to Delta where a nice person re booked me onto the 10.00 am departure for Nashville…so made my way to airport hotel and booked in ($99 plus taxes). Fantastic room, huge bed, massive TV…and great shower for which gave many thanks…Feeling more human later, went to hotel bar where the lovely Donna poured me wine and made me chicken Panini. And so to bed, after setting 4 alarms to make sure jetlag didn’t stop me!
Even the lunch was, dare I say it tasty…some sort of sweet and sour chicken thing – but I was so hungry it just disappeared…I was especially delighted to see it was accompanied by broccoli…
So we landed in Philly, on time, smooth. First stop –immigration. Up to now I thought the person requirement for a US Border Guard was sociopath/miserable/depressed. To my surprise the chap who saw me was actually pleasant…bit spooky being called by my first name by a complete stranger but I suppose they do that for a reason…
And so through to baggage claim (I naively thought the bag would magically be routed through to the onward flight…wrong. So I waited to collect…and waited. About to give up when I spotted the case – it was off the belt and stood opposite me (who did that?). Starting to worry now as less than 1 hour t flight and Philly is a BIG airport.
I’ll explain now before things get complicated. There are 6 terminals at Philly, A through to F. I arrived at A and my Nashville flight was departing from F. You can walk/get the moving walkway between A,B,C,D and E but there is a shuttle bus to get you from A to F (i.e. it’s a LONG way…). So I got the shuttle to terminal F. Made my way to the gate…no plane in sight.
When it got to departure time they announced that the flight was cancelled due to the wrong sort of rain on the runway or something…actually it was a hurricane moving through further south…we were told to go to ‘special services’ to get re-booked. Cue rush for queue….waited in line for a while then US Airways person told all of us for Nashville to go BACK to the gate to get our re-booked tickets…whoopee! Waited while list read out, my name not there (along with a few US so it wasn’t an anti Brit thing…). We were told to go back to special services…cue rush (queue rush?)…this time US Airways person handed out phone number to ring to get re booked…did so (thinking of cost!)..eventually got through and helpful US airways person eventually (after 25 minutes…ouch!) said she had re booked me on a Delta airways flight to Detroit (!!) which connected with a Nashville flight at 9pm…told me to go to terminal A (Delta terminal)….got so far then she said to go back as needed US Airways to print out boarding cards….found helpful person who wrote the flight numbers down…Delta 3236 to Detroit…feeling good now…
Off to Terminal A because…that’s where Delta flies from isn’t it?
So I took the shuttle to terminal A, went to see Delta person…but she sent me to US Airways to print out the boarding card. But they sent me back..a few times bouncing between the two until I found a US Airways person who printed out my ticket ref….for NW Airlines…but it was due to leave from…Terminal E. So I walked from A to E (yes, through B, C,AND D…I now know Philly airport very well….
Got to E (slightly perspiring given that the flight was due to leave in 30 minutes)…Delta 3236 was listed but no gate. There was a NW flight from gate E4. To cut a long story short, eventually made it to E4 and presented my voucher…blank looks. Persisted and the lass put the magic number into the computer and hey!!!I was on!!
Relax, I thought, downhill from here…how wrong can you be? When we taxied out to take off, the pilot informed us that there were 20 (yes 20 planes-and I counted them!) ahead of us in the queue…eventually took off at 7.40..for a flight of 1 hour 10….I could make the connection!
It seemed to take ages to get down to land at Detroit, and then to taxi but sprinted off the plane at 5 to 9 to find…the gate was closed!! The plane was still there…but the doors were locked. Burst into tears. No I didn’t because I am a MAN and we don’t do that sort of thing….
Off to Delta where a nice person re booked me onto the 10.00 am departure for Nashville…so made my way to airport hotel and booked in ($99 plus taxes). Fantastic room, huge bed, massive TV…and great shower for which gave many thanks…Feeling more human later, went to hotel bar where the lovely Donna poured me wine and made me chicken Panini. And so to bed, after setting 4 alarms to make sure jetlag didn’t stop me!
Thursday, 27 August 2009
1 day to go!
Last day at work today...have managed to check in online for flight tomorrow thus securing window seat...flying on Airbus 333. Am staying at hotel on airport tonight - avoids stress of delayed arrival for flight and also avoids need for 5am start!!!
More when I arrive...
More when I arrive...
Monday, 24 August 2009
Start here...
Hi there...!
For the un-initiated, this blog may well appear very fish related....being written by someone who has worked in the fisheries field for over 30 years now (man and boy!). Fishing began as a diversion from O level revision, became a passion, and then a career with fish. Starting out after leaving polytechnic running a coarse fish rearing unit, widening to encompass all aspects of fisheries science, culminating in current policy role.
The motivation behind starting this blog is to put some thoughts down when I visit Nashville later this week as a guest of the American Fisheries Society - I will try to make entries each day (well , its an ambition anyway!) to give a flavour of what its like to be at the AFS conference and also in Nashville....
More later when I get there!
For the un-initiated, this blog may well appear very fish related....being written by someone who has worked in the fisheries field for over 30 years now (man and boy!). Fishing began as a diversion from O level revision, became a passion, and then a career with fish. Starting out after leaving polytechnic running a coarse fish rearing unit, widening to encompass all aspects of fisheries science, culminating in current policy role.
The motivation behind starting this blog is to put some thoughts down when I visit Nashville later this week as a guest of the American Fisheries Society - I will try to make entries each day (well , its an ambition anyway!) to give a flavour of what its like to be at the AFS conference and also in Nashville....
More later when I get there!
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