Eleven years back I was in the United States. Five days of business took me from Charlotte, North Carolina to Atlanta, Georgia; Birmingham, Alabama; Memphis Tennessee, and finally down to Jackson, Mississippi.

I could have flown from city to city: The company was more than willing to cover the costs, but I chose to drive, because that way I got to see some of those in-between spots that never make it into the tourist brochures and, I like to think, catch a glimpse of what life is like in those places.