Ned Luberecki and Stephen Mougin are touring this month in England, and Stephen is sending along a travelogue of their time across the pond. Day 7 involves a happy ending.
In the morning, the hotel offered breakfast. A full English breakfast. When in Rome… An egg, roasted tomato, 2 slices of ham, 2 sausages, roasted mushrooms, toast, hashbrown, beans, juice and tea. DELICIOUS!
Nedski and Mojo HIGHLY recommend the Blue Shutters Hotel in Poole, Dorset!
Our journey to the Square and Compass was… “interesting.” The SatNav (GPS) told us that it would be a twenty minute travel to the gig. Then we turned on to Ferry Drive, which turned out to end at the water. On the Ferry. Yikes! We figured that we would have time and it was a short trip across, so we drove onto the boat.
Leaving the boat also meant leaving the big roads and entering some that could only be referred to as “hobbit-like”. Nedski is a trooper, “calmly” driving us through the English countryside. At several points throughout the trip we were down to a single lane… of dirt… with cars coming at us. Fun!
After the harrowing ride, we landed at the Square and Compass and took a moment to look around. This place is amazing. It sits on the edge of the sea amidst rolling farm hills and is an OLD building. The pub has been in one family for several generations and includes a brewery and a museum. There is some fascinating geology in this region and everything is made of rock. Including the roof!
It’s a very small place, but the only location in the area, so there’s quite a bit of traffic. We set up our Fishman rig next to the fireplace and began to play. Three sets to three different crowds of enthusiastic listeners! During the first set, we mentioned that Ned had been shopping for a bowler hat. One of the pub owners came up with a 75 year old, authentic English bowler to give to Nedski! It’s quite a hat, indeed! You’ll have to ask Ned about it next time you see him, I’m sure he’ll love to tell you!
Sim Daley has been telling me about Cornish Pasties (PAH-stys) for years, and I knew that it was something I’d have to find here. A pasty is a crescent shaped pie crust, filled with meat or cheese and was originally made for miners to take in their pockets. I’m told that they used to be both sweet and savory, with lunch in one side and dessert in the other!
I believe we found the “real deal” here at the Square and Compass! Whoa. One between sets, then another “to make sure” after the show!! I’d travel those tiny roads again, just to have another!!
