Yesterday was Australia Day. A celebration of the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney, Australia, 1788. It’s kind of like our Fourth of July in the States, minus all of the fireworks. Actually, I think there may have been fireworks in the Melbourne CBD, but they weren’t going off on every street corner. Apparently, a lot of people have barbecues on ‘Straya Day, too, but I did not witness any. My housemates went on a bicycle pub crawl. More on that later.

I did run to the city to see the Australia Day parade, though. More to get out of the house and to have something to post about, rather than because I enjoy parades. As quite often happens to me, a Mitch Hedberg quote came to mind while I was on the train into the city: “If you’re watching a parade, make sure you stand in one spot; don’t follow it, it never changes. And! If the parade is boring, run in the opposite direction – you will fast forward the parade!”

And then these guys and gals walked by:

A historical re-enactment group?! You have my attention.

This guy’s mustache?!

Holding my attention.

Now I’m laughing. This is good.

The Wellington/Collingwood Knitting Group? Aw, thinking of home. (Shea and Tara, I am specifically thinking of you two.)

A Tibetan Community in Victoria? Good, good.

Still not bored…OHMYGOD!

The Melbourne Costume Group. THERE IS A MELBOURNE COSTUME GROUP?! Yes, friends. Yes, there is.

And some Doctor Who Fans (I don’t even watch the show, but this made me happy):

And the Star Wars Group:

And then…aaaaand THEN! The VINTAGE CYCLE CLUB OF VICTORIA showed up. Now I’m excited.

There were so many penny farthings, I didn’t know what to do with myself. GLEE! Total glee.

There was also the Roller Derby group and the Ukulele Kollective:

I also happened to capture this Herald Sun photographer taking a photo of this little kid:

History in the making!

There were also various immigrant groups marching. Many fantastic outfits there. But I think this post has become picture heavy enough. I don’t want to break anyones iPhones or something.

Spent the rest of the day reading (Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential, if you must know) and waiting for my housemates to make it to the local pub. Which, by some miracle, they did. I was coaxed into 2 schooners while they finished off a healthy number of pitchers. In the name of ‘Straya!

And then I got to watch them cycle home. A good day, I would say.