I was off the river by 3:30 and had the boat loaded and was ready to go.

Just down the road from the boat basin, towards Ocala is the Ocklawaha Visitors Center & Trailhead of the Ocala National Forest. I decided to stop in.

They had a hand out for a 3 mile round trip trail which started at the visitors Center and ended back a the boat basin. It was getting past the time when I could enjoy the hike at my own pace an still be back before the gates locked. I decided to pull out of the visitors lot and park along the road berm which on most Florida Roadways are wide and flat.