For the most part the weather on Whidbey Island cooperated for the unofficial last weekend of summer and local residents as well as tourists were out in force celebrating Labor Day.

High gas prices didn’t seem to matter much as the RV park at Cornet Bay and the camping areas at Deception Pass State Park were nearly filled to capacity with trailers and tents.

Out on the water at Cornet Bay, several people were having their first experience in two-person kayaks courtesy of Anacortes Kayak Tours while on the boat ramp, members of the Hom family from Everett were busy baiting pots with turkey legs in preparation for a day of crabbing.

On the dock, Joe Black from Coupeville and his daughter, Kelly, were reeling in smelt just about as fast as they could get the hooks baited and tossed back in the water.

“These are bigger than they were last year and we’ve caught some really nice ones today,” Joe Black said.

Kelly Black said they came out early in the morning to try their luck and by 10:30 a.m., they had caught about a half-bucket full of the tasty silver fish.

Out on the west beach at Deception Pass State Park, Kayla Walker from Renton and her brother, Cameron, were having fun playing in a large, driftwood log fort.

“We’re having a great time camping with our parents,” Kayla Walker said. “We didn’t build this fort, we just found it here.”

Back in Oak Harbor, folks were busy getting the barbecue grills fired up and getting the picnic tables arranged for lunch at Joseph Whidbey State Park while at Fort Ebey, anglers were trying their luck surf casting in hopes of hooking a passing salmon.

Labor Day weekend was a happy three days for youngsters and adults alike. Now the kids have to turn their attention to heading back to school while their parents return to work as summer 2008 comes to an end.