My poor wee monkey: due to my discombobulation at having to take a cage today, as the Sex Toy is in hospital, I wasn't wearing riding gear, so I didn't pick up my bag and throw it over my shoulder out of habit, and Rusty, Chairman Mao, my spare hi-vis, the Tour Guide, my camera and cell phone got left outside Autobahn at the Papakura Service Centre.  Dick-of-the-day Award right there for Bwucie.  Didn't even realise until MUCH later, and did not expect to ever see the lad again, and he is irreplaceable, unlike the rest of the stuff.Team Foley kindly dropped in to check the garage and shops on their way through from Pukekohe to our place, and against all my expectations, Chairman Mao had been handed in to the Autobahn, and all my gear and, most importantly, Rusty was still inside.  Paul F. tells me he had a serious conversation with Rusty from there to here, the upshot of which is that I am on the little Orang's s**t list for quite a while.The ride itself was another stunner, perfick weather, a cuppa at Waiuku, to which AGD led us, and a stock up of sarnies etc for a pick-a-nick, then moi, Mr Local Knowledge, took over as lead driver in the Waka Holden to lead them through some little twisty back roads to Pollock then out to the Regional Park.  The Manukau at the top of the tide on a calm day is stunning, the team found a good tree to possie under, and Guy and I threw ourselves at the water.  Guy was dressed as "Undie Man", but that's what happens when you forget your togs, isn't it?  AGD also threw herself in the Manukau later, and a few more went for a sort of pommie paddle - roll your tweeds up and let your ankles get wet.  It was intriguing to notice how all the microscopic wildlife seemed to prefer the flavour of the Red Baron to the rest of us: none of the rest of us lost blood to the carnivores.After lunch Barry led the group up to the lighthouse at South Head, where the view was best described in three words: "a may zing"!  Very rare to see the Manukau Bar so still and calm.  The Librarian hit the wall after having walked more than her knee liked back at the park, so Mrs Red Baron took over the Waka Holden, I crammed my feet and fingers into Jean's boots and gloves, Team Red Baron lent me a belt to twitch her tweeds up so they didn't fall off me, and we shot off with me and the 250 Burger leading out through the twistems to Kariotaihi Road, then back via Waiuku and Karaka to Chez Crowther.  No ice cream stop today, but I had cunningly left a watermelon in the fridge before we left, and it was pretty durned good, too.Kerry and I finally got to swap our naff bithday presents, an exchange delayed by "things" until today: we've pretty much called it a draw for naffness this year, but that will only make us more determined to try hard in 2012.No photos, because of my stupidity in leaving everything behind: "Undie Man" is probably glad of that.  Klingon Trevor's grin just seems to get wider each ride.  If I didn't know better I'd say he's enjoying the new Duke.