Wrights On A Mission

Divine Appointments Along the Alaska Highway
The gentle rhythm of raindrops on the tent serenaded me to sleep. We woke around 5:30 a.m. to cool, damp morning air. By now, Melvin and I have settled into a routine. We quickly broke down camp, packed the bikes, and prepared for our 400-mile ride to Whitehorse.
We pulled out of Liard Hot Springs Campground around 7:15 a.m. Thick fog draped the landscape and hid the mountain peaks. The thermometer read in the mid-40s, but on a motorcycle, with the wind cutting through your gear, it felt much colder. On mornings like this, our heated hand grips are an incredible luxury.
About two hours into our ride, it was time for fuel. Gas stations are few and far between along these mountain passes, so we never pass one without filling up. We stopped at a nostalgic Alaska Highway service station and café tucked away in the Northern Rockies.
I pulled Gracie up to the pump, shut her off, and a young lady came out to fill our tank. When I tried to restart the bike…nothing. Not even the slightest sound of the engine turning over.
My heart sank.
Gracie had done this on Day 1 of our trip when the battery in my key fob had died, but she had been running perfectly ever since. What could have happened?
Melvin asked me to head inside and grab some coffee while he looked things over. I ordered coffee along with eggs and toast for the two of us, praying it would be something simple.
When I walked back outside, I was relieved to see Gracie running again.
While Melvin had been troubleshooting the bike, he struck up a conversation with the gas attendant. Her name was Patti, and she looked remarkably like our late daughter, Jessica—even her mannerisms reminded him of her. It was one of those moments that instantly tugged at both of our hearts.
As we walked back toward the café together, Patti shared that her brother was battling cancer. We offered her some encouragement before she hurried back into the kitchen—she was also the cook!
While we waited for breakfast, Melvin told me more about their conversation. We immediately knew what we needed to do.
A few days earlier, our friend Marvin had given us money with one simple instruction: Bless someone you meet on your journey.
Without hesitation, we agreed that Patti was the person God had chosen.
I slipped the money inside a gospel tract and handed it to her. At first, she politely tried to refuse it. I explained that a stranger had asked us to bless someone we met on our trip and that we believed God wanted her to know how deeply He loved her.
Her eyes instantly filled with tears.
She quietly accepted the gift.
After enjoying a delicious breakfast, Patti and I stood together and prayed. Right there in that little roadside café, she surrendered her life to Jesus and prayed the sinner’s prayer.
My heart overflowed with gratitude.
What had first seemed like an unexpected mechanical problem became a divine appointment. If my motorcycle had started normally, we likely would have fueled up and ridden away. Instead, God paused our journey so we could meet Patti, encourage her, bless her, and witness the beginning of her walk with Christ.
God’s plans are always better than ours.
After another two hours on the road, we stopped again for fuel at the Continental Divide Lodge and Service Station. There we visited with the cook before meeting a fellow rider named Derrick from Rhode Island.
We invited him to join us for lunch, and what we thought would be a quick meal turned into more than an hour of wonderful conversation. We talked about riding to Alaska, adventures across America, and how incredible it has been to meet so many genuinely kind people along the way.
We shared a Life and Teachings of Jesus book along with a Gospel tract and spent time talking about Christ. We reflected on John 10:10—that although the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, Jesus came so that we might have life, and have it more abundantly.
Before we knew it, over an hour had passed.
Being an hour behind schedule wasn’t part of my plan, but Proverbs 16:9 kept coming to mind:
“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”
We climbed back on the bikes and continued north. Before heading back on the road, we stopped at Watson Lake to see the amazing Sign Forest! There we took some photos and drone videos.
By afternoon, the weather had completely transformed. The temperature had climbed into the mid-60s, the sun was shining, and only a few clouds floated overhead. It made for one of the most beautiful rides yet.
The scenery was breathtaking. We passed towering mountain ranges, spotted a black bear cub, two grizzly cubs, herds of bison, a moose, a coyote, and even a rabbit along the roadside. Every mile seemed to reveal another glimpse of God’s magnificent creation.
We made one final fuel stop, but Melvin was still hearing an unusual noise coming from his motorcycle. Rather than continue to our planned campsite at Wolf Creek, we decided to stay in a cabin at the Yukon Motorcycle Park, where they have a garage stocked with tools for traveling riders.
That evening we ordered pizza and enjoyed visiting with two local riders, Sean and Sam from Arctic Moto. They shared some great recommendations for places to ride once we reach Alaska.
To top it all off, the two men who had helped us the day before happened to be staying at the same campground. With everyone’s help, Melvin was able to tighten the axle bolt, adjust the chain, and raise the suspension. Thankfully, that solved the problem.
Once again, God reminded us that every delay, every conversation, and every unexpected detour has a purpose.
Every person we meet is a blessing.
Every day holds a new story.
And every story is designed for God’s glory.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” — Proverbs 3:5–6