It's Thursday, and we left Cambridge on Monday, so I guess that makes this day 4. We've covered a lot more ground than straight line distance, but that's okay. I'm currently sitting at a picnic table at a campsite on the outskirts of Ottawa, and using wifi while camping is definitely a first for me. Then again, this campground is a far cry from the Gros Morne ones I'm used to. Oh well. We're camping this trip at least partly because it's far cheaper than staying in motels, especially with the dog and the guinea pigs

Our first stop was at the Warsaw Caves Conservation Area, where we spent an enjoyable few hours exploring the lanscape and crawling around underground. They're certainly pretty amateur caves, but lots of fun, and a great price. Price is important. Here we are outside between caves, with our little headlamps on.

Using the timer, long exposures and some creative headlamp placement, I managed to get a couple of shots of us underground.

After the caves, we headed off to Beachburg to visit some wonderful friends, where we spent a day and a bit lazing around in the country, eating good food, having good conversations, and generally unwinding from the last couple of stressful months. They're always a joy to visit, and well worth the detour.

From Beachburg, we headed eastish into Quebec. In case you're ever there, let me warn you that the area around Val-Des-Monts contains some of the most bizarre road design I've ever encountered. We went from being ahead of schedule to being woefully behind. Thankfully, the friendly folks at Aventure Lafleche managed to fit us into a later time block. We hiked through the treetops, zipped down ziplines, and generally had a fantastic time. Highly recommended.

Anyhow, I've been typing for way too long. Time to get back out there and have some more adventures

Take care
-J-

Well, it's finally time. We're running a few days behind our original plan, but that's about par for the course with us. Moving doesn't come naturally to us, and other things happen that can't be helped. Such is life. But now the car is packed, the bulk of our belongings are in a storage locker soon to be picked up by the moving company, and the road beckons.

Plans for various stops have come and gone, so it remains to be seen what we'll actually see as we go, but there are people to visit and fun things to try. Just my lovely wife and I, the dog, and the two guinea pigs, rolling down the highway in the trusty Saturn wagon.

I'm hoping to find wifi spots along the road, and keep a steady stream of pictures and video flowing for anyone who's interested in our little journey. And awaaaaaaay we go!

Take care
-J-

Yes, that's right, I am now officially unemployed. After almost 5 years at my less-than-ideal job, I'm finally freeeeeee! Saturday was my last day at the warehouse, and here's hoping that that particular chapter of my life is now closed. I'm certainly not claiming that nothing good came out of it -- I learned a lot, I kept in shape, I met interesting people and definitely furthered my studies into the wide variety of human nature that exists out there. My creativity tends to come out more during periods of misery, so I got some good songs out of it before I just became too overwhelmed. I'll miss driving cool industrial vehicles, but I won't miss the sore back or the bureaucracy, or the feeling that I was going nowhere fast.

That being said, once we arrive in Newfoundland, I may well be working a shift or two a week at the branch out there. While I'd probably prefer to make a clean break, the reality is that I'll need to be working, and having something lined up beforehand helps to reduce the stress.  If I'm lucky, I can then move on to some work more closely related to my interests and skills. A lot of my incredibly talented artistic friends live in St. John's, and I'm hoping to get back into the music/theatre community in some way. The new Ticklish Brother album will hopefully be ready for a fall or winter release, so that'll give me something to hawk

We've got just 2 or 3 more days left in Cambridge before we start off on a two-week road trip. We'll be meandering our way eastward, camping, seeing some sights, and visiting people, then arriving in NL at the beginning of September. I start in at MUN on the 8th!  More about the road trip soon!

Take care
-J-