Finish line for six-month Puget Sound kayak challenge

A six-month marathon of sorts ended this weekend.

Kayakers, some of whom paddled all 150 nautical miles of a course that went north from Belfair, around Hansville, past Bainbridge Island and through the Tacoma Narrows, docked Saturday in Allyn to celebrate the end of the Puget Sound Challenge.

The course was completed in 14 legs, starting in Belfair-Tahuya on April 4 and ending Saturday in Allyn after a morning launch from the Key Peninsula.

This year's event was the first, but co-organizer David Fisher, of Poulsbo, said, "We hope that this will be the first of many to come."

The event was organized by the Olympic Kayak Club as a small fundraiser for the Washington Water Trails organization and to raise interest in the Kayak Club. Fisher said fellow club member John Kuntz of Poulsbo's Olympic Outdoor Center came up with the idea and the two of them decided to go for it with the simple goal of seeing if they could pull it off.

About 75 people plied the waters Saturday, and Fisher said that well over 100 participated over the six months the event took place.

Bob McBride, of Seabeck, was one of those, saying he gets out on the water about once a week. He said kayaking allows travelers to see Puget Sound from the water.

At an awards ceremony after the final leg, McBride received the "Biggest PITA" award, with PITA jokingly referring to a big pain. Fisher said that award was just done to needle McBride.

"We're just goofing," he said.

"Mr. Congeniality" went to Poulsbo's Herb Kai, who said he normally goes out on the water alone, but paddling with a group allows for the jokes, the riddles and the singing that goes on when there's a crowd on the water.

Washington Water Trails, an organization that advocates for public-waterways access for people in human or wind-power craft, picked up a check for $500 on Saturday at the event, but Fisher said there will be more for the organization later.

"It really has been a success for us," Fisher said.