My plan was to get us out of the heavy air created by North State fires burning for more than a month. So, my two grandsons and I headed west. Two years ago, I had promised the boys a camping trip, but it was put off for one reason or the other.

The Suzuki luggage rack was loaded to the max with sleeping bags, tents and other camp gear while the interior was crammed full of luggage, dog crate, our smallest dog, two young boys and me. All of us were eager to hit the road.

By the time we passed through Weaverville, the smoke was so thick, visibility was limited along Highway 299 W.

Everything was clear as a bell by the time we reached Six Rivers National Forest. We stopped at a rest area to find Forest Rangers taking a survey from vacationers staying in the recreational area. We told them we were just passing through on our way to better air. I guessed that because of the nearby forest fires, they were gathering information regarding the volume of tourists that were staying in the Six River area. Actually, I couldn’t imagine who would be camping in those forests when fires of such magnitude were still smoldering.

Reaching Willow Creek, the fires and smoke were well behind us. A few more mountain passes and we were looking down on a different kind of air. I was actually expecting ocean breezes, complimented by a sunny sky and billowy clouds.

We now had fog to endure.

Oh well, we were at the coast and we were there to stay for a few days, anyway.

I had called ahead to check on the need for reservations and the ranger in the state park office assured me if we were to arrive early – by mid day, securing a campsite would not be a problem — and, it wasn’t. We unloaded the car at Patrick’s Point State Park near Trinidad with many spare campsites.

The first thing to note in arriving at the coast is that the weather is truly predictable. Some days it’s sunny, some days it’s foggy, but that degree of dampness in the air is always a sure bet. That’s why it’s so green over there. We quickly discovered we had traded smoke for fog that first day and night.

Fortunately I had bought a couple of bundles of firewood. Yes, vacationers in the campground were allowed to have campfires! Good thing, because the air was brisk, the kind of brisk that while a T-shirt was comfortable, a sweatshirt was definitely a good choice for an early evening around the campfire.

The boys enjoyed the campfire and roasted their hot dogs, but in the morning they complained it had been a cold night in the tent. I reminded them that when they packed, they were supposed to include a sweat pant outfit for sleep time. So, we added some extra covers for the next night. Breaking camp after a night of fog is a phenomenon not to be forgotten. Lessons are quickly learned. When you camp in fog, you really should cover your tent with a plastic or canvas tarp. Fog is wet. Moisture collects in trees and it begins to rain in camp. That first morning, the boys and I were eager to have breakfast. Sorry guys, it was going to be cold cereal. No bacon and eggs this trip.

We huddled around the campfire, putting off the ugly chore of taking down the tents until well after breakfast when the fabric would be dry. Two hours later we decided to go exploring and give the tents more time to dry. Finally, after wiping the worst of the moisture off the tents, we packed up and headed north.

Driving up the coast that afternoon, we stopped at an Oregon campground near the town of Brookings. The sun was shining and this was going to be a better day. The boys explored the ocean beach, climbed rocks, built sandcastles and played with the dog, which had quickly discovered the deep sand on the beach was a real romping ground.

The tents stayed dry at this spot. However, never believe anyone who says that camping is easy. Unless you have an RV ready to go, camping is a challenge. And, know this – when you camp with tents, you really want to stay put and do day trips that allow you to return to camp. The boys truly learned the meaning of breaking camp on this trip. They agreed with me that staying in fewer places is the best way to do tent camping.