The tour provided breakfast at the YMCA near our campground at Fort Stanwix, so I packed up and left about 6:25 to bike to the YMCA for breakfast and the 6:30 briefing. It felt quite chilly, so I put on my Primal rain jacket. I got it months ago, but this was the first time I've worn it riding. It has a light liner, so it's much warmer than the my older rain jacket. We may be riding in light rain tomorrow, so I'm glad I have good rain gear. I don't remember exactly what time I started the route from YMCA after breakfast. After just a few miles on road, we were on the canal trail for the rest of the route. Maybe half paved and half smooth crushed stone. The trail stuck close to the Mohawk River, often on the towpath, sometimes separated a bit. It passes several locks, most of which I photographed. After the afternoon rest stop, we rode by the Herkimer Home State Historic Site, the restored home of Nicholas Herkimer, an American revolutionary militia officer who fought in the French and Indian War and died in 1777 from injuries suffered in the Revolutionary War Battle of Oriskany. He was leading a militia force to relieve the siege of Fort Stanwix. So there's the Erie Canal connection! The State Historic Site emphasizes Herkimer's role as an enslaver. I walked through the restored home, including the enslaved servants' quarters on the lower level. It was sobering, especially since the site also includes a huge Monument to Herkimer just 100 yards away. The rest of the route is beautiful. I stopped at Highwheel Coffee in plain to fill my Zojirushi. To get to the campground at Canojaharie High School, we climbed a challenging hill, notorious to repeat CTEC riders. I walked up the hill in 2023. This year I rode it without difficulty, if slowly, after 60 miles, using my gravel bike's lowest gear. It's a comfortable campground, with dinner by Brooks Barbecue of Oneonta, a CTEC favorite. Half a chicken for each rider, with all the fixins, prepared on-site. I remembered Brooks from my 2023 CTEC, so I was looking forward to it. They didn't disappoint!