Wrights On A Mission

When God Carries You Through the Rough Roads
What a wonderful night’s sleep we had in our cozy tent cabin at the Yukon Motorcycle Park! The cabin was built with a sturdy wooden frame, canvas walls, a metal roof, two twin beds, electricity, and even baseboard heat. It felt downright luxurious after so many nights in a tent.
One of the strangest things about staying in the Yukon is that the sun barely sets this time of year. Before we knew it, it was nearly midnight and still light outside. We finally drifted off to sleep and didn’t wake until 6:30 the next morning. Inside the cabin it was still toasty warm, while outside the temperature hovered around 51 degrees. We were both thankful we weren’t crawling out of a cold, damp tent. It’s amazing how the smallest comforts can remind you of God’s blessings.
After packing our gear and loading the bikes, we chatted with two Canadian riders staying in the cabins across from us. One of them had broken his ankle while riding the Dalton Highway. As they talked about the road conditions, Melvin naturally steered the conversation toward something even more important—faith in Christ. He shared a Gospel tract with the gentleman, who admitted he used to read a chapter of Proverbs every day but had fallen out of the habit. Sometimes all we need is a gentle reminder from another believer to return to God’s Word.
Because it had been an unusually rainy season, they warned us that the ruts on the Dalton Highway were exceptionally deep. After hearing firsthand accounts, we prayerfully decided to change our plans. Instead of attempting the Arctic Circle via the Dalton, we would head toward the historic Denali Highway later in our journey.
By 9:00 a.m. we were back on the road. We made one quick stop in Whitehorse to look for a specialty wrench Melvin needed before continuing north on the Klondike Highway toward Dawson City. Unfortunately, the auto parts store didn’t have the tool we needed, but it gave us the opportunity to drive through downtown Whitehorse—a place we would have completely missed had we stayed on the bypass.
Our stomachs soon reminded us that coffee and breakfast were long overdue, but northern Yukon has a way of humbling your plans. Towns are few and far between, so we rode well over an hour before finally reaching Carmacks. There we ran into the three adventure riders we had met the day before at the famous Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake. It’s amazing how often paths cross on the road.
While fueling up, a local truck driver hauling lumber noticed our New York license plates and asked where we were from. When we told him the Adirondacks, the conversation quickly shifted to the unique way homes are built in the Yukon because of the permafrost. Since Melvin is a contractor, the two of them could have talked construction all afternoon. Before long, however, the conversation turned to Jesus, and Melvin was able to give him a copy of The Life and Teachings of Jesus. It’s incredible how God continues to open doors for ministry, even at a gas pump in the middle of the Yukon.
The miles between gas stations grew longer and lonelier. Missing a fuel stop simply wasn’t an option—you might not make it to the next one. Soon the road conditions became increasingly difficult. Frost heaves buckled the pavement like ocean waves, and potholes appeared without warning, large enough to swallow a front tire. We weaved from one side of the lane to the other trying to avoid the worst of them until eventually the pavement disappeared altogether.
The highway turned into dirt.
Every passing semi covered us in thick clouds of dust while we bounced across endless washboard roads. I was relieved when I finally made it through the first stretch of gravel and back onto pavement, even if that pavement was riddled with more frost heaves and potholes. At least the sun was shining and temperatures had climbed into the mid-60s. I couldn’t imagine riding these roads in the rain and mud.
Then came another construction zone.
Fresh crusher-run gravel had just been spread across the roadway. At first it felt manageable, but then Melvin turned onto what looked like the correct detour. The surface changed instantly.
The gravel wasn’t packed.
It was deep.
Really deep.
Within seconds I could feel Gracie’s front tire beginning to wander. The handlebars started shaking beneath my hands. I tried to stay loose. I gently rolled off the throttle. “Come on, Gracie… stay with me.”
But the gravel grabbed the front tire like quicksand.
Everything suddenly happened in slow motion.
The bike leaned farther and farther until I knew there was no saving it. I jumped clear just as Gracie crashed onto her side, sliding across the loose gravel.
For one terrifying moment, all I could think was, “Lord, help me.”
And He did.
Not a scratch on me.
No broken bones.
No traffic behind me.
No vehicle coming the other direction.
God’s hand of protection was unmistakable.
Gracie didn’t fare quite as well, but she had sacrificed herself far better than I could have imagined.
A road construction worker immediately climbed out of his truck and hurried over to check on me.
“Are you okay?”
“I am,” I smiled, still catching my breath.
He looked at the gravel and shook his head.
“We just opened this section… I guess it isn’t hard enough yet.”
I laughed, patted him on the shoulder, and replied, “Nope… I don’t think it’s hard enough.”
He grinned back and said, “Well… I’m closing it again.”
“I think that’s a great idea!”
Melvin helped me get Gracie upright and moved both bikes onto a firmer section of the road. My nerves were rattled, but there was no turning back. After taking a deep breath and saying another quick prayer, I climbed back on the bike and kept riding.
Sometimes faith isn’t the absence of fear.
Sometimes faith is climbing back on after you’ve fallen.
The rough roads weren’t finished with us yet.
Hour after hour we alternated between dirt construction zones, loose gravel, broken pavement, frost heaves, dust storms, and potholes. Every mile demanded complete concentration. There wasn’t a moment to relax.
Eventually we reached the tiny community of Pelly Crossing, where we stopped to inspect the damage. Gracie had taken a beating. Both the front and rear left turn signals were broken, the clutch lever had loosened, and the left pannier had been crushed so badly the mounting brackets were bent. We managed a temporary repair on the front signal in the parking lot and decided the rest would have to wait until Dawson City.
Three more exhausting hours remained.
Construction zones continued one after another. Every time we thought the pavement had returned for good, another stretch of gravel appeared. By the final hour of the ride, dark storm clouds rolled over the mountains.
Then the rain came.
Already physically and mentally exhausted, we now faced pouring rain, slippery roads, and temperatures dropping into the low 50s. Water soaked through our gear while visibility faded.
For a brief moment the rain eased just enough for me to notice the river flowing beside the highway and the mountains rising above it. Even after one of the hardest riding days of my life, I didn’t want to miss the beauty of God’s creation surrounding us.
Then the heavens opened again.
The final thirty minutes were spent riding through sheets of rain before we finally pulled into the Bonanza Motel in Dawson City around 6:00 p.m.
We peeled off our soaking gear, brewed a pot of hot coffee, and warmed up with leftover pizza from the night before. Amazing how delicious cold pizza tastes after surviving a day like that.
Once we had showered and regained some energy, it was time to repair Gracie. The pannier was bent so badly we couldn’t even open it.
While working outside, a man and woman stopped to talk after noticing our New York plates. The gentleman introduced himself as Dave Sweet, originally from Rome, New York, who now lives in the Yukon as a gold miner. Dave generously helped Melvin straighten the bent pannier bracket while I went inside to charge electronics, upload photos and videos, and begin writing today’s blog. During their conversation, God once again opened the door for Melvin to share his faith and give Dave a copy of The Life and Teachings of Jesus.
Today was one of the hardest riding days we’ve faced on this entire journey.
The roads challenged us.
The weather challenged us.
The crash challenged my confidence.
But through every obstacle, God remained faithful. When my strength ran out, His strength carried me. Every difficult mile became another reminder that we are never riding alone.
“But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” — Isaiah 40:31