Nomadic Nurse Diaries

Dear Moses Lake,

After a couple of wild days on the road, I’m writing this now, finally at my spot in Washington. The journey from Kalispell to Coeur d’Alene was stunning, but as we pushed onward towards the west coast, things started to get a bit… well, let’s just say less picturesque. I left you last time with the gorgeous pine trees and winding roads of northern Montana and Idaho, but this leg of the trip was more about endurance than enjoyment.

I finally made it to my spot in Washington late at night, almost 10 PM to be exact. Let me tell you, the drive from Coeur d’Alene to my destination on the west coast of Washington was a wild ride, but not in the fun way. It started off with pretty mountains and quickly transitioned into… well, more sagebrush.

If you’ve heard descriptions of Spokane, let me confirm: they’re true. And Moses Lake? Same deal. Boring as hell. I’m just going to come out and say it. Also, side note—if you look up notable incarcerated individuals in Washington, a ton of them are from Spokane. Queue the side eye.

Anyway, Stella and Watson and I needed a break, so we pulled into a park in Moses Lake. Stella had a blast, rolling around in the grass and stretching her legs on solid ground. I wish I could say the same for myself. While she was having the time of her life, I got a little scare that had me on high alert. Now, bear with me—I may have overreacted, but in my opinion, it’s better to overreact and stay vigilant than underreact and pay the consequences. Let me tell you what went down.

So, there I was at the park, trying to soak up some sun and enjoy the moment with Stella, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. Okay, don’t panic yet, I told myself. I live in a van, people stare, it’s whatever. But… something about this was different.

I put Stella back in the van, despite wanting to enjoy more time with her. That feeling just wouldn’t go away. I walked over to the bathroom (which was disgusting, by the way—thanks, Moses Lake). When I walked out, I noticed a car with two guys sitting in it, both their doors open, and the car pointed directly at where Stella and I had been sitting. My van was parked pretty close to them, so I had to pass them on my way back from the bathroom.

As I got to my door, I heard a voice say, “Yeah, solo female.” My heart sank, and I thought, FUCK. I paused, hand on the door handle, back towards the car, ready to pull it open but decided to listen a bit longer. “Yep, white van, solo female,” I heard again. And my brain was screaming, WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK. I yanked the door open, jumped in, and immediately locked the doors. Seatbelt on, sunglasses on top of my head, and then I looked up—and locked eyes with them.

In front of me were two guys. They were outside of their car, just standing there, staring at me. So damn straight I stared right back at them. One of them locked eyes with me, and neither of us broke contact for what felt like an eternity (though it was probably more like five seconds). When he wouldn’t look away, I decided the most logical next step was to flip him the bird.

He fidgeted in place, broke eye contact, and looked at his feet. The other guy looked over at him, saying something. I sat there watching them, and I didn’t drop the bird.

The guy looked back up at me, probably to check if what he was seeing was real. There I was, still mean-mugging him with my middle finger raised. He said something to the other guy, who had his back turned to me at this point, but when that guy looked up at me, I locked eyes with him too—still flipping him off like the stubborn bitch I am.

They exchanged a look, got back into their car, and I wasted no time putting Poppy in reverse and getting the hell out of there. But I didn’t head straight for the highway. Instead, I turned in the opposite direction and into a neighborhood. I parked, waiting to see if they were following me, but nope, no sign of them. My original plan was to sleep at a highway rest area that night, but after that encounter? No way. I decided to power through to my prearranged campsite.

I called the owner, and they were cool with me coming a night early, even though it was super late. I probably should’ve called my mom or brother to let them know what happened, but why stress them out?

Side note—there’s a scenic overlook about two hours outside the Seattle area. If you’re ever driving through, take the time to stop and see it! It’s like a baby Grand Canyon. Stella’s ears were blowing in the wind, and it was one of those moments that made all the craziness feel a little lighter.

As for our final destination? Loving the place we’re staying at! There are horses, chickens, cows, and even a little woods nearby for Stella to wander in. We’re very happy despite the craziness of getting here.

But here’s the thing—van lifers always tell me they’ve never had a bad encounter. How have I already had two? Are the rest of them just oblivious? Is it just me? I don’t know, but I’m beginning to think I might be some kind of weirdo magnet.

Stay tuned for more adventures—because with my luck, there’s always more around the corner.

The Nomadic Nurse