They are all intrigued by my stories, postcards and photographs, by the fact that I enjoyed much of the experience. I end my journey in Atlanta, where I stop with friends again for a few weeks. Three weeks later, going back to my old job, I fly back to New York. The journey is just over two hours. Behind me somewhere, a woman complains about the twenty-five minute delay in the plane taking off.
Greyhound takes about sixteen hours to do the same route.
All of it.