Hey there bloggers.
Back once again and to be honest i have not had a chance to post a blog in the last while as we have been too busy touring around far and wide so now it is time to try and catch you up with where we have been.
The first outing that we had was to Ballina and Killaloe which are two towns which are only seperated by a bridge but both have seperate identities. Its strange because the Ballina side is in Tipperary and the Killaloe side is in Clare. But its like they should be just one town.
Handy tip if you are in either of these two towns and you are stuck for a topic of conversation with the locals. Mention the traffic lights. They rule life here in the twin towns. Another example of the insanity that can occur when planning goes mad.
On the up side what a picturesque place it is as a town and like so many other positively ruined with heritage. On the drive into town across the bridge which is bizzarely one way the sun was out and all was good with the world in the Fanzini Transporter being piloted by captain Ronaldo. The locals were out in force scattered on the banks of the river enjoying what looked like a vibrant outdoor market. The town of Killaloe rises up on the slope of the hill on the other side of the river all very pastoral.
The parade that we were there to do was to start on the ballina side and cross the bridge and then up the hill to the top of the town of Killaloe. At the top of the hill we were to perform a show just after the parade on the back of the truck. Bring it on. We were in plenty of time so we set up the gear on the back of the truck and got settled in our accomadation for the night. To kill some time we went for lunch in a place called Wood Brothers in Killaloe. Turns out it is the Wood Family of the rugby football fame whose ansestral home is located on the same street as the restaurant. Great spot a real gem. Its a very open place with tables or the option of large comfy couches. Good food too I had the veg soup followed by an open brown bread salad sandwich. Very tasty huge portions. The soup alone filled me and i fear that i could not do proper justice to the salad Ronaldo ate enough for both of us though.Good on you Ronaldo!

There folllowed an absolute epic parking manauvre on the part of Ronaldo to get the van through a narrow gap to park in the guesthouse. Scrapes grinds and curses later the job was done. We headed down to the start of the parade which was beside the river where the rest of the parade awaited us about 200 parents and local childern. So being ill equipped for a show and more equipped for a parade we did our best to entertain the masses assembeled there on this lovely day.

The parade took off across the bridge with great energy with me on the monkey bike and Ronaldo on the fire juggling by the time i got half way across the bridge i had started sweating profusely by the start of the hill in killaloe i had realised my mistake. An absolute whopper of a hill great earlier when i had gone down it at great speed on the bike having to slalom to scrub off speed but less good now that i had to tackle it head on as it were. I battled gamely as they say and eventulally resorted to begging the kids in the parade to push me a little bit which they did.
By the time we reached the top i was sweating for ireland. The place was set up for the show the whole square filled with people the sun shining and the people responded. Great show. Fantastic volunteers. I did the five foot unicycle section on a truck for the first time.
Following the show it was back to the guesthouse and soon after that we checked out the hurling Clare v Galway in a pub with a very impartial crowd NOT.
Dinner was had by us in a stunner of a resturant called the Tsang Dynasty on the Ballina side of the bridge. What a cracker of a place highly reccomended I had the Deep Fried Tofu with Chilli and salt which was a very dry dish but dellicious nevertheless. Both Fanzini Broithers were very happy with ourselves and we adjourned to Taras pub where they have one of the largest selections of ales and beers i have ever come across. After the work of the day we relaxed with a well deserved ale.
All in all a pretty good day thank you to the people of Killaloe Ballina and your unusually moinikered Killaloe/Ballina Brian Boru Festival and your poor traffic lights plauged commuters