Of Kauri, Steptoe and Son and the New President

What day is it in Blighty, I check the Blackberry and discover they're catching up and it is in fact Monday. Been Monday here all day so far! Last day in Piahia (convinced it was named by a geezer from Wigan with the Pie Here pronounciation) . We grab breakfast at Hansons (another plate of Blueberry pancakes for me) and then head. Destination ultimately is back to the New President in Auckland but we head via Waipoua Forest (where we visit Tane Mahutu - but it's pissing with rain so we don't tramp anywhere else), the Dargaville Museum and the Kauri Museum. On the Dargaville Museum front we're the first people who've been in all day when we arrive there around 11. 00. Odd place, it's like the Steptoe and Son of the Museum world, looks like the town has emptied it's collective cupboards and brought 'em up. There's redundant toys, medical equipment, musical instruments, cups galore, a fascinating exhibition on Kauri Gum which makes more sense of that gig to me which is useful later. It isn't slick but I like that kind of place and who'd have thought there was such a large Dalmation population in the area (no not the dogs but people from the former Yugoslavia). Cal enjoys it. Lunch is taken in Dargaville itself, not the best culinary experience of the trip so far. Monst unimpressed in the extreme. I guess sometimes you get lucky other times you don't. The Kauri Museum is at the opposite end of the Museum scale, it is slick, very slick and none the worse for it. It fills the gaps left by the Dargaville experience but the Dargaville gig make more sense of the Kauri gum. Good combination on the same day. It also makes up for the Dargaville culinary experience with good food and drink. Arrive in Auckland by about five and sort out the room back at the New President. Get sent out to grab some web time to send an e-mail about the balloon trip and that's where I'm now, in a bright orange room with frantic tapping going on about me. Next stop food and an early night. Tomorrow brings one of our longest drives as we kick off the day at Waitomo to visit the gloworm caves and from their to Rotorua.