Riding through Emeralda Marsh, an area of wetlands adjacent to Lake Griffin, the Oklawaha River, and Emeralda Island, is a relaxing, scenic way to start your ride, as you make your way to the Ocala National Forest and on to Astor. Once you arrive in Astor, enjoy the scenic beauty of the St. Johns River from one of two restaurants located along the river. (Key: US—Federal highway; SR—State Road; CR—County Road)

• Depart Gator HD south on US441 (get in far-left lane).
• At 1^st traffic light (less than 1 mile from Gator HD) turn left on to SR44.
• Travel east on SR44. Several miles up the road you will go through a traffic light.
• Just past the traffic light, turn left off SR44 on to Emeralda Avenue (there is a BP service station at the corner of Emeralda Avenue and SR44).
• Go to the stop sign and turn left on to Emeralda Island Road.
• Continue on Emeralda Island Road through the marsh and lakes (it winds around and includes several hairpin curves).
• At intersection of Emeralda Island Road and CR452, continue straight across CR452. Emeralda Island Road is now called Em-En-El Grove Road.
• At stop sign (intersection of Em-En-El Grove Road and Thomas Boat Landing Road) turn left on to Thomas Boat Landing Road.
• At the ‘Y’ intersection on Thomas Boat Landing Road, stay to the right.
• At the stop sign turn right on to CR450 and travel east to Umatilla.
• Turn left on to SR19 at the traffic light and travel north on SR19 through Altoona.
• Several miles on the other side of Altoona, turn right on to CR445 toward Alexander Springs.
• At stop sign, turn right on to CR445A.
• At stop sign, turn right on to SR40 and head east to Astor.
• Stay on SR40 and just before you cross the bridge over the St. Johns River turn right and head down to the parking lot of the Blackwater Inn. There you can dine outside overlooking the river or inside. The Blackwater Inn has been one of our charity sponsors.
• If you want to enjoy the river from the other side, stay on SR40, cross the St. Johns River and turn left on to Alice Drive immediately after crossing the bridge.
• At the stop sign jog left on to Ormond’s Jungle Den Road. It will make a ninety-degree turn to the left and lead you into the parking lot of the Cactus Key Raw Bar & Grill. There you can sit outside along the river and on Saturdays enjoy half pound hamburgers for only $1 starting at 12 noon.  (NOTE:  Cactus Key has not reopened since being flooded out by during hurricane last year).