Villagers Carry Motorcycles Across Flooded Stream to Hunt Mushrooms

Residents of TalingSai Subdistrict in Ban Dan Lan Hoi District, Sukhothai Province, typically wake at 3 a.m. to ride motorcycles into the forest to harvest cone mushrooms. However, heavy rains over the past several days have caused forest streams to swell and block access routes. Many villagers have been stranded, unable to cross the deep waterways to reach the mushroom grounds.

Undeterred, residents devised an ingenious solution: they insert bamboo poles through the motorcycle wheels and have four men carry the bikes through knee-deep water while crossing a stream one meter deep. They tie together forest vines to create long ropes, which they attach to the motorcycles. Two women on the opposite bank hold the ropes taut to prevent the bikes from being swept downstream.

Sukanya Sueaon, a local resident, reported leaving her home at 5 a.m. and arriving at the crossing point at 6 a.m. to find about 20 motorcycles and people waiting to cross. After waiting several hours with no drop in water levels, the villagers worked together to carry all the motorcycles across the stream one by one.

Despite the risk, locals say it is worth the effort. This is peak mushroom season, with cone mushrooms blanketing the forest. Harvesters can earn 1,000 to 2,000 baht daily. Unopened buds sell for 350 to 400 baht per kilogram, while opened flowers fetch 200 to 250 baht. The mushrooms have a sweet, crispy taste and appear only once a year, making this season a golden opportunity that locals are unwilling to miss.