There are far more desolate places in USA but I still experienced true wide open and desolate space in Tie Siding, Wyoming. It is but a tiny community south of Laramie in Wyoming. Blink and you will easily miss it as you drive by. But it turns out we had a connection to it. On our way to search for my family history in Britton, South Dakota my friend Daniel Milnor told me we would be passing through some of his childhood stomping grounds. He grew up around here, and you can read a few of his tales here.
After a day of driving, we found our cheap motel in Laramie and quickly headed down the road to find Tie Siding in the afternoon sun. I am not sure what the population is now but you can probably count it on a couple of hands – or three or four. We head out on the dirt road that leads out to where The Milnor farm used to be. We never did find the actual farm, actually I do not know if it is even there any more, nor where we really looking for it. We were just looking for some space.
There is a magic in these spaces for me and I always end up seeking them out. Some days I feel that time is rushing past so fast I need to hang on for dear life. Every moment I want to try and freeze slips through my fingers (is this how it feels to get older?). There is a feeling in a wide open space, of time slowing down to a near halt. These are places that time has left alone. There is room and time to breathe. I am not nostalgic for older days. This time, right now, is the best time I have ever been alive. But I do seem to be a bit short on time and wide open spaces at present.
When we landed in LA with 90 days of road tripping ahead of us I thought this is the most wonderful thing in the world – and it was. It was the best 3 months ever. But time does not care. I fight a futile battle with my camera to freeze it but the 90 days, the wide open space, and the USA 2014 road trip eventually ended, naturally. Damn you, time. You won again.
I am not giving up the fight though. The open road, the wide space, softly calls me, always. And I am armed with a camera, I can freeze moments and emotions.
Next stop on our road trip – horses and a college rodeo!
Bonus – mores horses! On the way back to the highway Charlene spots some gorgeous horses (she is rather fond of horses) and slams on the brakes. The horse turns out to be very interested in the Fuji gear, clearly a horse that knows quality photographic gear.
Tie Siding, Wyoming. It is desolate and flat out here.
We enjoyed a beautiful quiet afternoon at Tie Siding, but this tells the story of fierce storms.
The store is still in business.
Road to infinity, I can never get enough of these images.
“Uh let me sniff that famous Charlene Winfred edition Fujinon XF35mm lens”
