Not a fungi! Unpalletable, grumpy, stroppy, patronising 'wild mushroom expert'.
I wait with great anticipation for the mushroom tour to begin, 'I love mushrooms' sticker proudly attached to my chest (to distinguish me from the morning group of mushroom pickers arriving back at the vinery from their foraging journey).
Our 22 guest strong group is greeted by Cameron Russell, a mycologist who seemes disgruntled that we came along. A brief introduction highlighted Cameron's most detested questions; these featured brain bleeding tales of Amanita muscaria (I couldn't confirm this through my research), the troubbled LBMs - little brown mushrooms, and psych ward anecdotes featuring magic mushrooms that may end you up in jail. Anyone listening would be forgiven for not wanting to pick mushrooms, ever!
Nontheless, I was still excited despite my eyebrows raising at least an inch a number of times when Cameron shared his knowledge of fungi with the group. I was somewhat sad he's had so many bad experiences to share. In fact, I was surprised he's identified these aspects as the most important to share and that he's chosen mushroom touring as a career.
Fortunately, he wrapped up the off-putting intro quite quickly and we were on our way. We drove ourselves, about 15 minutes, thought the backroads to the picking location at Tubbarubba/Myers Road, which we were advised not to put into Google because we simply wouldn't find it. If we can't keep up and get lost, as guests often do, he exclaimed, plus noone got lost in the morning group so we were definitely due, we should just head back to the winery and suck it up.
Upon arrival at the location, which was essentially a roadside, I eagerly grabbed my mushrooming bag but was patronizingly told to put it away and stay with the group. This announcement made my mushroom keen heart sink, I felt like a child who has just been denied a favorite toy. What did I come here to do? ... Didn't I come here to pick mushrooms? I thought he was going to have us all hold hands and sing kumbaya as we gather around and watch him reluctantly share his fungi wisdom. We were instructed to go picking, every so often catching a 'come back' shout to stop us wondering too far or stepping in the wrong spot.
I didn't really get to have a good look at the collective basket to which all participants were instructed to place their forest treasures. I caught a glimpse of what apprered to be barely a meal for one.
Two types of edible mushrooms were found - safron milk cups (an explanation on how to identify these species was discussed, I was scalded for nearly stepping on one when I was trying to get Cameron's attention with an excellent looking specime I held in my hand I hoped to discuss). The more mature individuals of these safron milk cup mushroom species were rudly rejected by the mycologist without an explanation as to why. Two specimens of agaricus augustus were also a part of the collective harvest but as to how to identify these species was not elaborated on.
We didn't get to explore much of the area and in an hour we were done and drove back to the vinery where we were fed the morning group's finds. (They paid to pick mushrooms for us, and we paid to have them served up for lunch - sounds like a good deal to me :)
The meal was great and made up for the disappointing foraging experience. I was glad to have an outstanding glass of Moorooduc Estate wine in my hand served by attentive and helpful staff who advised us of an excelent picking location where we later found a bagful of saffron milk caps. We didn't go home empty handed after all:)
In all frankness, join a different tour; one with a guide who is passionate about what he does and forthcoming in sharing his knowledge about the local conditions and species. Cameron doesn't seem to produce the goods in that department and the cost doesn't match what you get. I wouldn't recommend this tour to my friends.
Ps: You learn more by watching you tube and exploring the forest yourself! .. mushrooms grow everywhere and there really is only a handful of edibles that I would generally collect! I take photos and my foraging finds to be confirmed by the mushroom guru at my local market who is more than happy to help, for free! read more
