ANZAC Day

After sleeping all day on the beach, we decide we’ve probably had enough of Surfer’s Paradise, and plan to head North for ANZAC Day (essentially a joint NZ-AU veteran’s day commemorating the failed attack by both countries upon Gallipoli during WWI).

Before we head out, though, we stuff our faces with pasta at an all you can eat joint in town. We eat so much that they literally stop serving us. At least we get out money’s worth.

We sleep in another field that night, playing rummy until we’re tired. Kyle and Jake decide to sleep outside, but are forced to run in to the car when it starts to pour. Imagine five people sleeping in one van, everything wet, and all the doors closed from the rain. It smells wonderful.

Waking up, we kick the soccer ball around a bit, call home to wish our families a happy Easter, and stop by a free coffee spot along the road (they have these free coffee joints all along the highway called “driver revivers - they’re open all the time and are a fantastic idea to prevent tired driving). We talk to the people working, and they suggest we stay in town (we’re in a small village called Beenleigh) and watch their ANZAC parade rather than deal with the crowds in Brisbane. We all like the sound of that and head towards main street.

I’m glad we stay there, because the small town feel for such a holiday is awesome. I get the feeling that literally everyone in town is in this parade, as all the shops are closed and the streets are packed.

We stick around to hear some speeches and witness a wonderful memorial service, then decide to head back to Surfer’s Paradise, as everyone says the drive up to Brisbane is pretty underwhelming.

We get back to Surfer’s, eat some more all-you-can-eat, and get ready for a long drive home.