With Theo warmed up, there was nothing left to do in the campaign but take everything apart and pack. There was a lot to disassemble, and even more to pack, but we had a large group of people who were all pretty motivated to finish.
There were still a couple long days, not to mention exhausting hours inside the sauna of a sea container in the Texas sun. But that was no match for lightening hearts, and the simple pleasure of well-packed boxes. We even managed to relax a little in the last few days.
Now, we’ve all gone our separate ways. But it won’t be long before we’re together again in Antarctica doing this all again—and more!
![Sahsa begins unwiring Sahsa begins unwiring • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9686803021/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2814/9686803021_2aab0f4207_m.jpg)
Sahsa begins unwiring
![Ziggy too Ziggy too • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9686804077/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7366/9686804077_7ca1a67831_m.jpg)
Ziggy too
![John climbs the back to remove some tricky cables John climbs the back to remove some tricky cables • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9690043334/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5495/9690043334_59eeffca52_m.jpg)
John climbs the back to remove some tricky cables
![Housekeeping cable bundles Housekeeping cable bundles • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9690044466/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2870/9690044466_b099705708_m.jpg)
Housekeeping cable bundles
Sahsa really likes these cables. And these bundles too
![Cowboy Ed Cowboy Ed • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9690045362/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5515/9690045362_388f87e8a4_m.jpg)
Cowboy Ed
He got a cowboy hat
![He He's lassoed himself one big cryostat • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9686808329/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5519/9686808329_bf403980ab_m.jpg)
He's lassoed himself one big cryostat
![Cowgirl sasha Cowgirl sasha • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9686809397/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3700/9686809397_479a590fa6_m.jpg)
Cowgirl sasha
![Preparing to lift Theo Preparing to lift Theo • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9690048298/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3766/9690048298_2e92312647_m.jpg)
Preparing to lift Theo
![Lifted Theo Lifted Theo • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9686811269/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2862/9686811269_8b0ae95231_m.jpg)
Lifted Theo
![Midair cryostat Midair cryostat • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9686812207/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2891/9686812207_ac84724a9c_m.jpg)
Midair cryostat
![Anne controls one of the chains Anne controls one of the chains • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9690051462/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5511/9690051462_cdb2a0f0dc_m.jpg)
Anne controls one of the chains
Aren't antiquated hoists great? So many extra jobs to take photos of people doing
![At the stroke of midnight, the gondola transforms back into a collection of tubes At the stroke of midnight, the gondola transforms back into a collection of tubes • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9690052950/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3687/9690052950_53ea53d4fc_m.jpg)
At the stroke of midnight, the gondola transforms back into a collection of tubes
And a single mysterious slipper?
![Becky helps prepare bolt holes Becky helps prepare bolt holes • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9690053846/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5488/9690053846_663e34ebdb_m.jpg)
Becky helps prepare bolt holes
Each one was painstakingly retapped or repaired to save time and trouble in Antarctica
![Jon: Cryo Detective Jon: Cryo Detective • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9686817087/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2811/9686817087_9b2804695e_m.jpg)
Jon: Cryo Detective
Looking inside Theo for clues about performance
![Insulation removal Insulation removal • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9686825003/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5451/9686825003_22032a5b86_m.jpg)
Insulation removal
Everything from the bottom is removed to access the inserts
![Cryo team action shot Cryo team action shot • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9686826159/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7361/9686826159_16f8f34409_m.jpg)
Cryo team action shot
Removal of shields
![Ed preapres the top dome windows for shipping Ed preapres the top dome windows for shipping • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9686827247/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5527/9686827247_117ae4a2e9_m.jpg)
Ed preapres the top dome windows for shipping
![Joseph removes his SIP. Allowing the rest of the gondola to come apart Joseph removes his SIP. Allowing the rest of the gondola to come apart • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9686828281/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3686/9686828281_a11fa3aa51_m.jpg)
Joseph removes his SIP. Allowing the rest of the gondola to come apart
![Joseph (mostly hidden, as usual) takes the SIP away Joseph (mostly hidden, as usual) takes the SIP away • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9690067222/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7412/9690067222_cd35a91c9f_m.jpg)
Joseph (mostly hidden, as usual) takes the SIP away
I needed one last Joseph picture
![Telescope inserts Telescope inserts • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9686830325/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5324/9686830325_068bf85e4d_m.jpg)
Telescope inserts
Accessible again, and ready for removal
![Anne tackles the top Anne tackles the top • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9690069464/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7439/9690069464_e5c6202f7f_m.jpg)
Anne tackles the top
Taking special care of delicate and irreplaceable filters
![Sean also prepares bolt holes Sean also prepares bolt holes • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9686831879/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2890/9686831879_484cc5ff0e_m.jpg)
Sean also prepares bolt holes
And thinks science?
![Insert stands Insert stands • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9686833353/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3777/9686833353_b201cac8e6_m.jpg)
Insert stands
Standing. But with no inserts yet
![Telescope dissassembly team Telescope dissassembly team • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9686834423/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7383/9686834423_971da4d811_m.jpg)
Telescope dissassembly team
They open each tube, to make a few modifications before shipping
![Anne heroically reorgnizes all the fasteners Anne heroically reorgnizes all the fasteners • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9690073868/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3765/9690073868_22c4c882cc_m.jpg)
Anne heroically reorgnizes all the fasteners
![Sunbeams and satellite dishes Sunbeams and satellite dishes • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9690074708/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5446/9690074708_a2a1f7b8cc_m.jpg)
Sunbeams and satellite dishes
Disclaimer: dishes don't necessarily point at satellites (especially the one pointed down)
![So many telescopes So many telescopes • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9686837429/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7288/9686837429_a81b343032_m.jpg)
So many telescopes
Too many?
![Becky, almost finished with insert preparation Becky, almost finished with insert preparation • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9690076612/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7437/9690076612_0406e24d4e_m.jpg)
Becky, almost finished with insert preparation
And enjoying it. Or maybe feigning amusement at my antics
![Telescope tipping Telescope tipping • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9690077660/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7441/9690077660_fd18630a1b_m.jpg)
Telescope tipping
Little known pasttime, with a few staunch adherents
![Insert "coffin" Insert "coffin" • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9686840211/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3744/9686840211_479173edfb_m.jpg)
Insert "coffin"
Special containers in which, I guess, they're buried alive. Because they'd better not be dead!
![Becky rocks the cowgirl hat Becky rocks the cowgirl hat • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9690079370/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3752/9690079370_1d7a042e69_m.jpg)
Becky rocks the cowgirl hat
Pulling it off better than anyone else
![Theo in her crate Theo in her crate • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/9686842103/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5537/9686842103_197daefdd4_m.jpg)
Theo in her crate
And this is the end. To be continued...
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