Even though many campgrounds were booked solid in Kitsap County for Memorial Day weekend, the gloomy weather cut some of the outings short, and kept some away entirely.

Summer officially starts June 20, but Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start of the camping season.

At Kitsap Memorial Park near Poulsbo, senior park aide Zach King said May 25 that the 11 recreational vehicle hookups, 16 tent sites and four cabins were all reserved, but it didn’t look like it.

King said that beginning in early May the park typically stays full all summer. In addition to camping it boasts trails; a stretch of beach on Hood Canal; a large, enclosed, event structure; a couple of pavilions; an amphitheater for presentations in the woods; a well-stocked playground; and a very large, open field.

He said it is the last campground before heading over the Hood Canal Bridge to the Olympic Peninsula, and so it’s a natural pit stop for folks heading west.

Shelly Bryndza of East Bremerton began the camping season in February, and checked in May 23 into one of the RV slots. She was headed home early though, not because of the weather, but because her group included three toddlers, who just needed the conveniences of home.

Edward Schneider and his husband Daniel Somerville had been exploring the entire Kitsap Peninsula, from Renton, when they stumbled onto the park. They were comfortably ensconced around the campfire in an RV slot that Saturday afternoon.

Day users included fly fishers Alex Capraro and Christian Bell, recent transplants from Colorado to Poulsbo, who were intent to catch and release on Hood Canal. The beach was the site of a photographer capturing a young family’s images against the scenic Hood Canal backdrop. And a large wedding party was rapt in its ceremonies mid-afternoon.

King had some suggestions for those who wished to book a camping spot. He recommended planning well in advance if possible. Barring that, he suggested checking for open slots early in the morning. He explained that cancellations occur, and become visible first thing the following morning. Given that, being the early bird gives potential campers the best chance of grabbing those worms for fishing.

Make reservations online at parks.wa.gov

Daniel Somerville and Ed Schneider enjoy a campfire.

A family hikes down to the beach.

Shelly Bryndza takes her kids and dogs for a walk around the campground.

There are four cabins that can be rented at the campground.

Youngsters enjoy the playground at the campground.