Bye To Blazing Saddles

The Blazing Saddles are the fund-raising arm of the National Council For The Blind of Ireland (NCBI). The NCBI gives training and support to blind and visually impaired people in Ireland.

The Blazing Saddles hold fundraising cycling events every year, both in Ireland and abroad. I have been on cycles in Canada (1997); France, Spain & Portugal (1998); Malaysia (2000); California (2001); South Africa (2002); Chile & Argentina (2003) and China (2004). I've met some great people and had some great times and also more importantly, raised a lot of money for the NCBI.

None of this would have been possible if it wasn't for the big man in NCBI, Eamoon "Big Daddy" Duffy, who is the Tour Director. I can probably say that if it wasn't for Eamon, I wouldn't be going to China this year. Last year's trip was to China and before the trip, I went to night classes in Chinese language to help on the trip. I really liked China and because I have been there and also have learned some Chinese, this gave me the motivation to head back to China to teach English.

Anyways, the Blazing Saddles are going back to Argentina this year and it will be the first foreign trip I will have missed since 1999. I'm sad that I'm not going but I went down to Thurles, County Tipperary last weekend to one of the Argentina Training Camps.

I had intended to just go down and say hello and goodbye to people but the camp organiser, Billy Shanahan, sorted me out with a bike on the day, cheers Billy!



I had a great day and got to say goodbye to a lot of people. And had great craic traveling up and down on the train and going to the pub with the great John Roche and his dog George (pictured above)! Go on ya good thing, Rochie!