Illustration by Sam Posnick (SamPosnick.com)

Hi all, John here!

Well I made it to Auckland New Zealand. I'm here for IECA Australasia Chapter's Erosion and Sediment Control Conference.  I'll be giving a keynote and teaching some courses.  

It was a Very long flight. I left Redding late afternoon on Wednesday and arrived in NZ at 4 pm Friday. I don't know where Thursday, June 18th went!!!???

On my way to the hotel, I spied the highway from the airport was under construction. And I saw some really well constructed storm drain inlet protection. While silt fence inlet protection is not my first choice, these were exceptionally well placed and installed. Good job mates!

It is winter here after all. So, there seems to be active erosion and sediment control going on and I am really looking forward to the IECA Australasia / NZ Institute of Highway Technology Conference. While I'll be teaching and lecturing, I always learn a lot whenever I leave the good old USA.

After the conference next week I'll be caravanning around the country for a couple of weeks. I'll keep you posted on all things erosion and stream restoration.

If you're at the conference, find me and say hi!

John

Note:  That fantastic illustration up at the top is courtesy of the very talented, very wry Sam Posnick.  Check her out at www.SamPosnick.com

Update on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 1:43PM by James Swirsky

Hey All, James Here:

Whoops!  I was just informed from a reader that Kangaroos do not actually inhabit New Zealand.  They are indigenous to Australia only.  

Sorry all for the mix up. My fault.  I let the unbridled joy of seeing a smoking Kangaroo wearing a party hat override the need for fact checking...I'm easy that way.

So for the purpose of this blog entry, lets all assume that the Kangaroo above is just visiting New Zealand (likely in for the conference).