The Drewe Arms at Drewsteignton has been a special pub for me & many others for a long long time. Playing there last night brought back memories of great sessions and of the legendary Aunt Mabel calling Time!, and of Charlie Hills singing. In the spirit of those days the Ramblers found some strength left after 21 miles and played a full-on set and a ceilidh. How some of the walkers found the energy to dance…but the dancers and the band on stage fed off each other and the shared enthusiasm was such that the dancing went on till 11pm.

The interior of the Drewe Arms is kept as it was in Aunt Mabel’s time, and Lawrence who now owns and runs it is determined to keep it that way and to bring back the music and the crowds enjoying great nights here. Big thanks to all at the Drewe Arms.

The night before , we played at the Tally Ho in Hatherleigh with people craning for a vantage point to see the band. There we finished with a session with other musicians joining us. The highlight was a rendition of The Grey Funnel Line by most of the women who have been walking, coaxed into public performance and wonderful harmonies by Rowan as our strange caravan has moved on.

Today: Dartmoor!

The Drewe Arms in Drewsteignton: JJ returns to a place where he played sessions thirty years ago. Tonight the pub has filled us all with great fish and chips, Morris sides have danced outside, and now the band is playing to a packed house….

The hardy few for the longest day’s walk !

And now to the session…

The Tally Ho Inn, Hatherleigh. An hour-long Ramblers set to be followed by a session. Lots of people here ready to join in!

For anyone unfamiliar with Devon…this is what it looks like.

JJ writes:

At the Royal Oak, Dolton – walkers and support team making almost 50 people gathering for lunch and a pint. There’s a bit of reluctance in evidence among the ramblers as we get ready to set off for the afternoon – we’ve already done 12 miles this morning. We walked the Tarka Trail from Great Torrington where last night we played at the Plough Arts Centre. A great venue and a show which featured some new songs of mine as well as lovely interpretations of traditional songs by Rowan.

All that came at the end of a day of walking yesterday in mainly glorious sunshine – though we were caught by a shower at the end. We came from Barnstaple along the Taw estuary and then the Torridge – also on the Tarka Trail. Lots of people, a great atmosphere and a beautiful walk but hard on the feet on a tarmac cycle track. A real contrast with the first day’s walking on Sunday. That was the heavyweight day: Exmoor’s sodden turf, wild ponies in the distance, and 50 walkers, heads down into the driving rain. We were revived by a barnstorming gig in Barnstaple at the North Devon Beer Festival. Lundy Gold Ale and crazy dancing – which began during new song “She Wrote Her Name” and built to a conga during the tune set. It’s great having Lindsey Oliver joining us on stand-up bass, adding a real depth to the sound. She’s walking with us this afternoon, too.

On to Hatherleigh! JJ

The Royal Oak, Dolton – friendly, efficient, lovely pub with excellent food.