Wrights On A Mission

A Day of Rest in Chicken, Alaska

After nearly two weeks of long days in the saddle, God gave us something we didn’t even realize we needed—a day to slow down.
We woke up in our cozy cabin in Chicken, Alaska, thankful for a warm bed and a roof over our heads. The cool Alaskan morning made it the perfect time to pull out my Jetboil and AeroPress coffee maker. As the rich aroma of fresh coffee filled the cabin, we enjoyed a simple breakfast of oatmeal and thanked God for another beautiful day on this incredible journey.
Following a hot shower, we headed to the main lodge with one goal in mind: upload the very first YouTube video from our adventure. I had finally finished editing it the night before and was excited to share our journey with everyone back home. We treated ourselves to a couple of freshly baked scones and another cup of coffee from the lodge café before connecting to the Wi-Fi.
While waiting, we struck up a conversation with Marcie and Rick, a friendly couple staying at the campground. We swapped travel stories and talked about the many adventures that come with life on the road. Those unexpected conversations with fellow travelers have become some of our favorite parts of this trip.
Unfortunately, my excitement quickly turned into disappointment when I discovered the lodge’s Wi-Fi had limited data and there wasn’t enough bandwidth left to upload the video. It would have been easy to let frustration steal the day, but sometimes God redirects our plans for something even better.
Instead of staring at a loading screen, we decided to explore.
Just outside our cabin stood a massive gold dredge from Alaska’s early mining days. It was fascinating to imagine the thousands of hopeful miners who once worked these rugged hills in search of fortune. We spent time walking around the historic machinery, capturing photos and video for our YouTube channel while soaking in another piece of Alaska’s rich history.
From there, we wandered across the road into the tiny town of Chicken.
Calling it a town almost feels generous, but that’s part of its charm. Chicken consists of a rustic mercantile, a café, and a liquor store—all connected under one roof. Outside sits a single gas pump, weathered wooden buildings, and old-fashioned outhouses that make you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time.
The town’s unusual name has an equally unusual story. The early gold miners wanted to name the settlement “Ptarmigan” after the abundant state birds that often found their way onto dinner plates. The problem was no one could agree on how to spell “ptarmigan,” so they settled on the much simpler name: Chicken. Sometimes the simplest solution becomes the most memorable.
As we stepped inside the Chicken Creek Café, we were immediately welcomed by the irresistible smell of fresh homemade bread, warm cinnamon rolls, and baked pies. Then I noticed something that made me smile even more than the pastries.
A sign that read: “Free Wi-Fi for Customers.”
Once again, God had quietly provided exactly what we needed.
His timing is always better than ours.
With grateful hearts, we ordered two coffees, a warm cinnamon bun, and a slice of homemade apple pie. As we enjoyed every bite, my video finally began uploading. What started as a frustrating inconvenience became an opportunity to relax, enjoy one of Alaska’s hidden gems, and witness God’s faithful provision in the smallest details.
While we waited, we met another wonderful couple in their seventies traveling in a pickup truck with a truck camper. They listened intently as we shared stories from our motorcycle adventure. You could see the excitement in their eyes. They told us they wished they were young enough to take a journey like ours, but they were equally thankful they could still travel together and experience God’s beautiful creation. Their joy and gratitude were a wonderful reminder that adventure doesn’t have an age limit. As long as God gives us breath, there are still memories to be made.
Later in the afternoon, we returned to our cabin where we worked on editing the next YouTube video and performed a little routine maintenance on the motorcycles. The sun shone brightly overhead, and without the cool Alaskan breeze it would have actually felt quite warm. It was one of those peaceful afternoons where there was nowhere to rush and nothing demanding our attention.
We ended the day back at the lodge café, sharing a delicious wood-fired pizza while I finished writing today’s blog.
Today wasn’t about covering hundreds of miles or conquering another challenging road.
It was about slowing our pace.
It was about enjoying a tiny historic town that many people simply pass through.
It was about meeting new friends, sharing stories, laughing over coffee and pie, and recognizing God’s hand in the little moments that could easily go unnoticed.
Sometimes the greatest progress isn’t measured by the miles we ride but by the rest we allow God to give us.
After thirteen demanding days on the motorcycles, today renewed both our bodies and our spirits. We’ll be staying in Chicken through the 4th of July festivities and won’t leave until Sunday, but today we’re simply thankful for God’s gift of rest.

“But those who wait on 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 (NKJV)