On My Way...

I'm sitting in the Dubai International Airport with 5 hours until my flight boards.




I started the trip at home with 5 giant bags weighing about 45-50 pounds each, plus 2 carry-ons.  I'm flying Air Emirates, and they let you pay for 3 extra bags up to 75 pounds each for much less than the cost of sending them air freight.  Thus, I'm taking all my science equipment with me on the flights.  I'll paste a list of the gear at the end of the blog.

Tyler picked me up at my house with his truck at noon.  We drove to San Francisco International Airport, where I checked my bags and hung out for a couple of hours.  We boarded and left San Francisco to the west, and I was struck yet again at how beautiful the California coast is.  I had a beautiful view from Stimson Beach up into Point Reyes and Tomales Bay.  I need to spend more time on the coast.

The flight to Dubai wasn't completely full, and Air Emirates deserves its good reputation.  Dinner (curried prawns for me) was good.  They then dimmed the lights in stages, with the lights reddish to simulate a sunset.  The stars came out on the ceilings above the isles.  It was dark outside by this time.  I watched a movie and then decided to try to sleep.  I managed to be half or fully asleep for about 8 hours!  It got light out, but just for a couple of hours.  Breakfast was served, and we landed after sunset in Dubai.  Ahh, the joys of time travel...

So back to my scientific equipment.  Here are the itemized lists for each of my science crates, which also include some of Ian's cold weather and diving gear:



Black Pelican Case ~45 lbs:
Leica Compound Microscope 
Nikon Binocular Microscope (minus stand) 
Eye Piece Digital Camera 


Black Box 1 ~58 lbs:
In Cardboard Box:
TISF Fiber Optic Light Source 
Prizmatix Light Source, Slim-LED 435
2 FIX LED 500 DX Underwater Lights 
1 Nikon Camera Flash & Cord
2 Small Camera Tripods
Loose:
Bag of zip ties 
1 Black PVC Pipe 
1 Binocular Microscope Stand
1 Insulated Body Suit
2 Laser Pointers and Mounting Hardware
1 Underwater Laser Pointer
1 Dive Hood
1 Pair Dive Fins
1 Pair Dive Shoes
2 Pairs Dive Gloves
1 Fiber Optic Cable
1 10m Tape Measure
8 #10 Rubber Stoppers
20 Round Plastic Petri Dishes
9 Square Plastic Petri Dishes
3 Dozen Epindorf Tubes
4 m Webbing
2 Dozen Glass Pipettes
12 Survey Flags
1 Long Hose Clamp
1 Roll of Aluminum Foil
1 Wire Tether
5 Forceps


Black Box 2 ~44 lbs:
1 Camera Tripod
9 Plastic Trays
1 Small Sheet of Aluminum
1 Pile Sweater
5 Pairs of Socks
8 Pairs of Various Gloves
1 Diving Knife
1 Aluminum Coffee Pot
1 Tea Pot
1 Pile Blanket
1 Pair Diving Gloves
1 Camera and Underwater Housing
2 Long Underwear Tops
3 Long Underwear Bottoms
2 Spatulas
3 GoPro HeroCams
3 Extra GoPro Housings
1 Hat
1 ThermaRest ProLite Sleeping Pad
1 Pair Boot Liners
2 Pairs Insoles
2 Packages Baby Wipes


Blue Box 
In Yellow Pelican Case:
Licor Light Meter & Accessories:  Data Logger Model LI-1400
Underwater Housing for Licor Light Meter 
Loose:
Small Tools (wrenches, pliers, etc.)
Misc. Hardware
36 Glass Sampling Jars for lipids
Micromanipulator and Mounting Parts
13 Rubber Stoppers #13.5
Misc. Computer Cables
Misc. Batteries
1 Pair Sorel Boots
Velcro
1 Retort Stand and Clamps
4 Net Bags
1 Partial Roll Duct Tape
2 Clipboards, Paper
2 Instruction Booklets
1 Notebook
2 Camera Battery Chargers
1 GoPro HeroCam


Blue Suitcase 
Ian's Dry Suit
Miscellaneous Cold-weather Clothing
2 Sleeping Bags
3 Books
Misc. Toiletries
3 Aluminum Tripod Legs











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