It was time again to hit the road. About 70kms out of Dubbo we went through the small town of Peak Hill.Spotting a sign on the side of the road saying "Open Cut Experience" ahead, we thought why not, so we pulled in to have alook. The experience is FREE which is what we like to see!There are about 6 walking tracks with viewing platforms, picnic spots and information signs all around the previously active mine.It has had a couple of starts, both underground via shafts and then open-cut, and has been left in relatively good condition.We only went to the main viewing platform to check out the sites.James has probably seen enough of the open cut mining but I still find it quite interesting to see.The steep rock faces cut into, what looks, very hard country shows just how hard the work can be. With no permanent water close to this area the original mine was plagued with water issues in its early boom days

The impacts of mining on the landscape/environment are more often than not over or under stated to suit the particular position of all parties both for and against it.Peak Hill however was not even on the map prior to the discovery of mineral deposits (a familiar story in many Australian mining towns I know) and now even after the mine has closed there still survives a small outback community with enough infrastructure to support itself, in its own small fashion!?Now despite being only 500m off the Newel Highway, unless you stop to take a look, you would never know it was there!

The great Australian movie "The Dish" has bought us to our next stop just outside of Parkes.To answer the question the "dish" was built in the middle of a sheep paddock outside Parkes because the area has low amounts of electronic interference, good weather conditions and wide open flat unobstructed views of the heavens.The actual size of this dish is amazing and to see how quick it moves is pretty impressive.To see things on TV is one thing, to actually see them in real life is another experience in itself. You can't actually go into the dish but there is an information centre here and cafe.There are huge amounts of information relating to the dish and its importance to all sorts of worldwide research and projects.Now being told the dish was a telescope (think the zebra saga all over again Don) the girls were keen to look through it!?You think the birds and the bees is a hard sell try explaining how a radio telescope works!We both only went to school in Gympie after all! It was great to see this massive landmark and it is well worth the stop.

About 30kms down the road brings us to a free overnight stop on the banks of the Lake Forbes.This was a great spot with walking tracks, a kid's playground not too far away and of course the local Bowlo within our sights.A very popular spot for the happy travellers, by the time the sunset, there were 17 vans set up here for the night. It was here that the girls adopted "Happy" (The Forbes Flapper Duck).A friendly old bloke was visiting the travelling crowd telling stories and offering his bag of tricks and puzzles to one and all.Turns out he was a retired local mechanic who has also done a lot of caravan touring.We yarned to him for a while but that was all he got out of us.He must have felt sorry for the girls having such tight arse parents as he turned up with the flapper duck as a present the next morning!Nice old bloke.Some of Forbes historic buildings also featured in the movie "The Dish".Forbes free camp was a top spot, sitting back listening to the footy on the radio and having a beer, made it a very comfortable overnight stop.The next day however we were packed up and on our way.

Well it was time to hit the track, Mount Panorama here we come.