The route begins near Citrus Center, a nearly forgotten community that once relied on river access before modern roads existed. From there it continues to Ortona, an area deeply connected to Native American history and archaeological sites linked to the Calusa culture, as well as to the Seminole legacy. Nearby stood Fort Thompson, one of several military forts built during the Seminole Wars to control movement along the river corridor.
Continuing west and north, the ride reaches Muse, a small rural town surrounded by farms, canals, and cattle land that reflects the cultural identity of Florida’s interior. Beyond Muse, the pavement gives way to dirt roads as the route enters the former Babcock Ranch lands, now one of the largest conservation acquisitions in Florida’s history. This area combines preserved wilderness with the development of a planned eco-city focused on renewable energy and sustainable growth.
The unpaved section crosses forests, prairies, and wetlands where wildlife is abundant, including deer, armadillos, alligators, black bears, and even the endangered Florida panther. Navigation requires care due to the network of ranch roads and minimal signage, reinforcing the sense of isolation and scale of the landscape.
The first half of the route ends at Tucker’s Corner, once a stagecoach stop along early inland travel routes and now the gateway to the Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area. This vast reserve of pine flatwoods and wetlands later served as a military training ground during World War II and is linked to Cold War–era training activities connected to the Bay of Pigs operation.
The return follows the same path back to Citrus Center, completing a demanding out-and-back ride that combines asphalt and dirt through some of the most sparsely populated and historically layered terrain in the Florida peninsula. The full route and its historical context are part of Descubriendo la Florida – Volumen 3.
