Griffith

On we travel enjoying the countryside whilst staying warm in the car. Entering Griffith we pass many citrus orchards. We make our way to a lovely, quiet caravan park on the other side of town. Unhook and make some lunch before heading off to the information Centre where we pick up a map and pick out a couple of places of interest.
First stop was the hermits cave high up above the town. This was some rocks where Italian migrant Valerio Ricetti who had fallen on hard times had made some caves into his home. He had a Chappel, a kitchen with a fireplace, bedroom and another rooms neatly cleaned out and made very comfortable. He had made a garden growing his own vegetables  and with the rabbits he could find in the paddocks he managed to live quite well. Aparantly he was thought to be a spy when the war broke out so was taken and locked up before they realized he wasn't  a threat. When he was finally released he went back to live in the caves. Ricetti found work on a friends orchard and when he had saved enough money, went back to Italy where he stayed until he passed away.

The chapel

The kitchen

Outside with the path and remains of the garden.

Griffith April 2015

Impromptu trip to Griffith this weekend. Weather was wet and windy. We travelled through the little town of Coleambally. Time for a cuppa. Nev found a local to chat to as usual. So I was able to chat to his other half. We learned that most of the residents of Coleambally are retirees or workers on the surrounding properties. The local properties mostly have cotton, rice, beef and sheep. The rice and cotton were being harvested at present.

A bit of information about the huge drag line at Coleambally 

Nev catching up with a local.