We drive the secondary routes when possible, shunning the motorways and freeways, and this does show us quite a different USA to what you would otherwise see. We passed into Georgia at 8.00am this morning and soon saw hundreds of examples of what the coming of the freeways did to the local businesses when the traffic no longer passed by...

I particularly like the neon pig sign on the roof of the next building, it appears to be perfectly intact after many years of neglect.

One thing we really love about the states we have travelled through this trip is the Spanish Moss that hangs from so many trees. It adds a ghostly atmosphere, reminding me of ancient cobwebs...

Still in Georgia, we found the town of Darien (founded 1736) and visited Fort King George. It is a recreated Colonial fort built on the site of the original constructed by the British in the 1720s as a military post to stop the French and the Spanish encroaching on their territory. No battles were every fought there, and maybe no shots ever fired in anger, but a great number of the garrison died of the many ailments and diseases that living in the swamps suggests.

The recreation of the fort is faithful to the original records and drawings and you can easily imagine living there, as when you look out over the swamps you see little signs of modern civilisation in many directions.

We love the honesty in advertising here in Georgia. Check out this sign outside an antique shop in Woodbine...

In McIntosh County we found what is reputed to be the smallest church in the USA, built in 1949. It is in the middle of the country, miles from anywhere, left unlocked for anyone to visit.