Grand Tour of Cow Pastures

We piled into a van on drove inland. We had two local guides, Vincent and his mom, Ms Brown. Cow pasture 1 took us by a pig farm and very vocal goats. But wait, we had microdosed first, so many of us had meaningful conversations with the goats. 

A semiscientific dosing experiment was going on...we were issued bracelets with numbers so they could keep track of us.

Dose 1 made us mellow, we all felt slightly more right with the world, allowing us to converse with other species.

The first pasture was a bust. We did find tiny acasia plants, the roots of which contain dmt. 

Hiking through first cow pasture.

Luckily, the pattie man was nearby, so we got sustenance. Apparently all patties are factory made these days...but they were hot and flakey....

The pattie man.

The second field was a winner....chock a block full of mushrooms. Three types of magic mushrooms...it was hot, and we had to climb through barbed wire, but we did it! I was surprised how obvious the mushrooms were...white patches in the pasture. I got a handful, but what will I do with them?

Carolyn climbing through barbed wire to get to mushroom field.

Psilocybe cubensis.

Owen (biologist) examining a haul at local bar.

Ms Brown with Michelle inside Ma Browns home (which is filled with mushrooms)

We ended up hanging out at a local bar where there was a shelf of harvested mushrooms. We stayed there for hours seemingly, enough time for me to purchase and down two giant bottles of water. There, one of our members was explaining how to harvest spores and sell them to tourists. There was a Rasta man with and Afrika medallion and full Rasta hair in wool hat. It was a local scene, but unlike many other places I’ve been, we did not draw a crowd. They are well accustomed to tourists here.

A great day!

And bonus: we got dinner tonight along the beach

Negril, Jamaica

So I was a little worried about travel arrangements for this “beta trip“ that I signed up for. The online brochure promised airport pick ups, but after I booked I had to initiate the interaction about both airport and room reservations. So when I arrived I expected a long and confusing wait and I was half right. The airport in Montego Bay is new and relatively unchaotic. I meticulously scanned the signs with peoples names on them and looked Longingly at the kiosks for the various hotels. 

Eventually, our host Larry approached me asking me if I was Julie. So random, he said he was basing his scan on intuition. When I travel I base very little on intuition... In my mind, intuition equals sleeping in the airport.

At any rate, Larry had a group of folks at the airport, one of which is a grower. He has a spore factory somewhere in the Carolinas and is looking at producing/growing here in Jamaica. 

On the ride to our guest house, I find out that Larry is fairly prominent in the mushroom community. He has written books, hangs around with other people who write mushroom books, and has led a pretty interesting life. He travels half a year, lately and South America, and spends the rest of his time in Missoula. He opened the first vegetarian restaurant in Montana, speaks Japanese, has lived in Japan, Korea, and Russia, just for starters. 

But hospitality is not exactly his thing. I was suspicious about the accommodations as well because I did not pay in advance. That proved to be correct, as the studio promised at the firefly did not materialize and I am now in a sordid room at another property without air-conditioning. As soon as I walked in the room, I pulled on the fan cord, which separated from the fan, rendering it useless. There was another fan mounted on the wall, which thankfully proved to be sufficient. I really wouldn’t mind except it seems kind of expensive at $90 US. I am spoiled by Southeast Asia.

But I forgot to mention that it faces the ocean. 

From my porch, yes I’m a brat!

So now for the good bits. After watching the sunset on the beach, we assembled in front of Michelle’s room. She is another beta tester from Bozeman, lovely, unique, and has two kids and a husband at home. There was tequila and beer. A group member showed up with h a giant bag of cannibals he’d purchased for $50 and folks started rolling immense joints and smoking like crazy. So much smoking! 

Sunset on our little beach

Owen arrived with the tea. We were to take a prescribed amount, but wait! No measure available, so they just filled my glass (btw, no glasses either, Michelle has to provide). 

Aside: I apologize for being so mundane, but NO DINNER! Michelle brought out snacks (not her job) and I ate a few nuts id brought for the airplane, but still....I mentioned food, but I guess everyone too into the drug cocktails...

Back to mushrooms: I think I took a few too many. I was slightly sleepy after 20 minutes and weary of standing around watching people smoke, so went to bed. When I closed my eyes, the visions came. I wish I could describe... they were colorful and slightly creepy. ...pearls in formation, but wriggling, so ... will not say the word.

Once the drug wore off, I was left listening to loud music streaming through my windows, seemingly from everywhere. No sleep for me! I eventually put on music to block the sound.....