While Goulburn isn’t in the Riverina region, we made it the first stop in our weeklong road trip (see ‘Our Road Trip’ blog from last week). From the outset of this road trip we noticed a strong camaraderie, a sense of humour and a ‘can do’ attitude between the locals.
Our last stop in Goulburn was The Roses Café. Bursting at the seams with diners, there was a real energy about the place. We loved their philosophy of making all their own food and a belief in the potential of the young people in the area. These young people provide great service in the café – something that is often sadly lacking these days.
The land was looking very dry as we made our way towards Griffith to stay for a couple of nights. To break the trip up we took a detour into Binalong in the Yass Valley. There we discovered The Old Produce Store and got to meet Cathy Kerslake, the new owner, who had opened its doors a few weeks previously. Inside is a wonderful treasure-trove of goodies, both edible and otherwise. Cathy is passionate about supporting artisans and producers within a two-hour radius of the village. Go Cathy!!
As we got closer to Griffith, we began to see lots of wineries and citrus farms. Griffith is known for its wine region and is home to many Italians. Fresh produce is another drawcard in and around Griffith. We were thrilled to be there while they were showcasing their annual Springfest citrus sculptures.
Yet it was the people of Griffith who made our short stay worthwhile. There are friendly, courteous bunch.