I drove the route last week, and my initial plan won't work. CR 42 in Marion County is too narrow with no shoulder and badly cracked pavement east of the Villages. So, when coming back from Gainesville on Monday I drove down 44 from I-75 through Leesburg, and there is a bunch of construction on that leg. So this weekend I'm going to drive 44 from Deland west and try CR44 and 44A. The front end (Crystal River to Leesburg on SR 44) looks good, and the back end (Deland to New Smyrna on SR 44) is good, it's the middle that's a problem. I'll keep you informed.