Watching the Road

April 5, 2008

Second day covering the situation out at the FLDS polygamous YFZ compound outside of Eldorado, Texas. The day started off with us tailing a pair of empty shuttle buses being escorted by police out to the compound. We made it as far as the first roadblock, which is about four miles away from the situation. A couple of state troopers stopped us from proceeding.

“Is there a place where you want the media to be?” Brooke asked.

“Yeah,” the Sergeant answered, pointing. “About two counties over that way!”

Much laughter.

We park our car at a good vantage point along the highway and sit, watching the road, waiting for the empty buses to return full from the compound (presumably loaded with yet more FLDS children being taken out by Child Protective Services).

I get bored and start photographing the “scenery” through the Texas heat-waves with the super-telephoto 600mm lens. Here are some samples:

We watch the road for hours and hours. And I have to pee so bad.

(Mom, stop reading here.)

After about four hours of really having to go I finally walked behind the car and sat on the open trunk. Brooke was in the car, busy on the phone, so I figured she wouldn’t notice anything going on. I wrapped my jacket around my waist to cover myself and right quick I’m “going” into an empty KFC soda cup, right on the side of the highway.

At that moment a state trooper drove slowly by, staring at me. I nodded, as if nothing was up. He gave me the peace sign and continued on.

Now I ask you, where else do you find such illuminating behind-the-scenes stories of journalism adventure?

We ended up staring at the road for five and a half hours. This is the view of the road that we stared at for so long, waiting for the bus. It will be forever burned into my memory: