Left Campaspe River early around 7am there was 160kms to Hughenden and an early start gave me at least an hour before the day warmed up. So at my speed of around 80kph allows two hours driving to get to Hughenden.

I had wanted to visit Porcupine Gorge but Camps6 #295 Pyramid Campsite indicates 30kms of dirt road but the book is 2 years old and I hoped that the road had been sealed so I asked the question at the Information Centre and was pleased to find that there was no dirt road now. I booked for 2 nights and after doing the internet thing set off to drive the 73kms to the campsite. I did have Telstra internet with the dongle but Floptus was again lacking.

Decided to set up camp and put up the awning and just have a walk around the site today doing the descent into the Gorge tomorrow. Met up with Jeffrey Deslandes and he has an interesting story to tell about his successful battle against cancer having been free for the past 7 years after a unique method of growing an antidote from a previous tumour and being injected every 3 months at Greenslopes Hospital near Brisbane.

He also plays a unique instrument shown in the photo, a biscuit tin slide guitar, at home he can use an amplifier but out in the quiet bush it sounds very vibrant on its own. He has written a book about his lfe and the way that he overcame cancer after the usual methods had resulted in it reappearing several times. FROM CANCER GOOD THINGS GROW the book is called and he is an inspiration to all for his positive take on life. He is travelling in a car and tent and ensuring that he is in Brisbane each 3 months.

Sunday morning and we did the treck down to the Gorge bottom to see and photograph the rock formations and swim in the pools of deep water left, there is no flowing river at this time of the year but the pools are a welcome relief after the walk down and exploration of the gorge, it is only 1.2kms down to the bottom but it seems like double that coming back.

We got back up at mid day to find that we were the only campers left most probably the others had to get back to work tomorrow, I didnt see any down the bottom except for a young lady who was heading for Cloncurry to start a job, she was well set up with a 4WD and camper outfit. She had come down the road from The Lynd to Hughendale that I had avoided by going the long way round via Charters Towers. 4WD territory but I was told that it wasnt too bad at Ravenshoe Information Centre but I didnt trust it in my special bus.

Have decided to cook tonight but not on a fire there are fire restrictions so I will have to do with gas, I have invited Jeff to join me so I had better get it right. Whilst I have been invited to enjoy many meals over my travels I have never actually cooked one and invited anyone to join me. I will stop off in Hughenden again to use the Telstra dongle on my way towards Winton tomorrow. Later and the meal was a success, we talked and watched the little furry friends we planned to meet up tomorrow in the Hughenden library so show Jeff about blogging.      John