Peechon Cove Camp

Distance: 3.2km | Type: Out and Back | Difficulty: Easy

In April of 2021, as the world braced itself against COVID and its restrictions my friend Juan Miguel and I decided to embark on a little rebellion - a hike down to the secluded Peechon Cove to camp overnight. We spent the week before planning despite the ODPM putting out a weather alert that would last the whole weekend. Now, I wouldn't usually recommend camping under such circumstances, but sometimes, you just need to feel the raw, untamed pulse of Mother Nature in your veins and besides, when is the weather office ever right?

As we made our way down to the campsite, it was as if the entire crustacean community had come out to greet us. Brown crabs, their earthy hues blending with the path beneath us, scurried back and forth, waving hello. Or at least I think it was hello, because the gundees were flying and I had a pot and all the ingredients to make a curry in my bag, so they must have been being friendly.

This unexpected reception, coupled with the thrill of the hike, filled us with a sense of camaraderie - not just between us, but also with our little crustacean friends. Jokingly, we contemplated the prospect of a crab dinner if our provisions fell short!

Arriving at our site, we quickly set up our CRUA Koala MAXX hammocks - we had the full setup with the 360˚ bug mesh and tarp - which were absolute godsends given the weather (Pro-tip: 360˚ bug meshes help against mosquitos that like to bite you through the bottom of your hammock). Our site was just off of the coast, right next to a river, which spilled over a rocky outcrop into the azure sea of Peechon Cove below. Sounds beautiful right? Well it was also on top of a termite nest, but they weren't too inhospitable and made great dinner guests.

Just as we got the hammocks up, the first of the rain began to fall, transforming the vibrant green forest around us into a watercolor painting. The pitter-patter of the rain provided the perfect soundtrack as we took turns bathing in the river.

By the time I was finished, the rain had eased, Juan Mi had set up a portable speaker with a little background music and it was time to fill our bellies. I came prepared to whip up a Coconut Curry Chicken with rice on my homemade gasifier stove.

SIDE-BAR: Now, it may seem a bit primitive compared to a high-end stove like the Solo Camp Stove, but let me tell you, with two tin cans, a little wire mesh, and a dash of ingenuity, it did the job spectacularly. Personally, I've always wanted a solo stove and it sits in my shopping cart, but as you can make your own functional stove for basically free I've held off. If you like top of the line gear, check out the videos, and let me know if you buy one!

This was my first time testing the stove in the field with a real meal but it worked out perfectly. I started dinner prep by sautéing a little onion and garlic, notice the size of the flames with just a couple twigs:

Then I added the rest of the ingredients and a short while later we were almost ready to go, just to let the rice cook and absorb the bulk of the liquid:

Unfortunately for you, we were so hungry that by the time it finished cooking, recording was the last thing on my mind! I'll work on this! So, as darkness fell, we savored the spicy curry next to a crackling fire, sipping Jack Daniel Honey and trading stories.

With the rain picking up, we retreated into our hammocks for the night. Cocooned in my hammock, I listened as the night air hummed with the symphony of rain, the distant crash of the waterfall, and the soothing rhythm of the sea. There's something incredibly peaceful about falling asleep to nature's lullaby.

We woke up to a glorious morning. The weather had cleared, and the sun danced on the shimmering sea. For breakfast, I rustled up arepas stuffed with spicy Thai tuna from the can (a quick, delicious camping breakfast for future reference).

Fueled up, we spent the day exploring - diving into the sea, clambering around the waterfall, and scaling down into the quaint cove. I remember taking a moment, soaking in the beauty of the rocky coastline and the hypnotic rhythm of the waves crashing against it.

Finally, we packed up and set our sights on the trailhead. The hike back was a reminder of our eventful adventure, leaving us with a satisfying fatigue and an insatiable craving for carbs and electrolytes. Of course, we obliged, stopping by a local bar for a refreshing beer to recharge and reminisce about our overnight adventure.

Camping at Peechon Cove was more than just an adventure, it was a testament to the joys of simple living and the healing power of nature. It was, without a doubt, another great one for the books.

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