The rain poured down all night and some time around 4am, Big Man woke up and mumbled “If it´s sunny tomorrow and we set off early, we´ll go and look for mushrooms”. Of course, he rolled over again, snoring was resumed and sleep once more descended.
The next day did dawn bright and sunny, we just slept through the dawn and a few hours of the beautiful morning too, if the truth be told. However, the weather was perfect for a long walk and if we found a few mushrooms too…well, that would be a bonus. Please join us on our mushroom (or Setas as they are called here) scavenge.
You´ll need:
- Two slightly overweight and unfit adults, brimming with enthusiasm and suitably attired and shod for walking
- Two energetic pups
- One pick up truck
- 2 ham and cheese rolls for breakfast, water for adults and pups, doggy treats, camera
- Net bag for collecting mushroom haul (so that the spores can fall out and spread more mushroomy goodness)
- Penknife for cutting them (never pull up by the root)
Directions
Drive truck 4km up steep and slightly scary mountain track behind house, allow dogs to run enthusiastically behind.
Park up and start to climb.
Pass huge, rampaging wild animals and ignore The Goatherd With No Shame when he tells you there is nothing to be found and he hasn´t been up that way for weeks. We saw the fresh tracks of his horses…you can´t fool us!
Admire old well.
Continue past The Lightning Tree.
Stop for a moment to catch your breath and look back at the view of the lake and then the sea in the distance.
Cross (not so) raging torrent.
Avoid anthills.
Finally…your first mushroom!
Keep going for three hours with a little break for breakfast and a chat with the Honest Goatherd who sends you off to look behind the Old Fig Tree where you are rewarded with a bumper find of mushrooms.
500g grams of delicious mushrooms which you will take home to make something delicious with. But more of that another time. Time for a cold beer and to ease your muddy boots off. A good morning´s mushroom hunting all round.
Chica Andaluza 