That's a lot of kayaks

Some 300 or so kayakers decided to paddle from Norwalk, Connecticut across Long Island Sound recently. They figured it would take a few hours. It did. They raised money for local charities, and had some fun in the process.

The event is called Kayak for a Cause. Like all good causes, this one had its genesis in a bar bet. Someone dared a couple of buddies to paddle from Connecticut to Long Island, across the Sound, for fifty bucks. They did it, but never got their money. It stuck in their craw enough that they kept thinking about it, and decided to repeat the stunt the following year with a few more friends as witnesses/participants. They collected a few pledges -- less risky than a bet, I guess -- and gave the money away. Every year more people join them, and now it's quite an official thing, complete with pre-trip training and post-trip mega-party. So that's how they inadvertently started this charity. I'm not sure if they still hang out with the person who welched on the bet.