A kayaker takes off near City Park early Saturday for a leg of paddling in the Tour du Teche.

The heat and humidity were high Saturday for a day of kayaking and canoeing, but that didn’t stop more than 50 paddlers from all across the United States to race this weekend along the Bayou Teche. 

Tour du Teche’s annual 135-mile race that spans the entire bayou took place this weekend, with kayakers either choosing to race the entire route or opt for a number of smaller races organized in separate spots on the bayou.

Tour du Teche organizer Raymond Pellerin of Breaux said Saturday the event was going well overall, but the heat and humidity in the area Friday and Saturday had caused about nine paddlers to pull out of the race.

“It’s a good race,” Pellerin said. 

“We have one trying to break the record. He’s about 13 minutes off right now.”

There were about 51 kayakers who signed up to race the Tour du Teche this year, but the final count turned out to be about 30, Pellerin said. 

More than 20 started out Saturday in St. Martinville, with other kayakers choosing various other smaller races to start paddling along the Teche. 

Participants hailed from Mississippi, Arizona and, of course, Louisiana. 

“Several states were represented,” Pellerin said. 

“All in all it’s been a good race. We still have Sunday to finish off.”

The race resumes today in Franklin and ends in Berwick.