Wrights On A Mission

Rest, Refreshment, and Divine Appointments in Chicken, Alaska
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” — Hebrews 13:16
We woke to a crisp 40-degree morning, but we were thankful to be tucked away inside our cozy little cabin, warmed by a propane wall heater that kept it a comfortable 75 degrees. Life in Chicken, Alaska, is simple. There is no electricity throughout the town—everything runs on generators. The bathrooms are outhouses, and even the showers are coin-operated. Yet there is something refreshing about slowing down and appreciating life’s simple comforts.
Around 7:55 a.m. we made the short trek into town. Five minutes later we had arrived—simply by walking across the road! Chicken is the smallest town I’ve ever visited, surrounded by breathtaking mountain scenery that seems to stretch endlessly in every direction.
The night before, the local tavern had filled the valley with music that drifted all the way to our cabin. They even celebrated the upcoming Fourth of July a day early by setting off some of the loud explosives that the Chicken Creek Tavern has become known for. Despite the lively atmosphere, there is a nostalgic charm about this tiny frontier town. And since the sun barely sets this time of year, “nighttime” is a relative term. We finally drifted off to sleep around 10:00 p.m. after pulling down the shades to block out the never-ending daylight.
As we walked toward the Chicken Creek Café, the irresistible aroma of sizzling bacon drifted through the cool mountain air. This café has quickly become my favorite place to eat on our journey. The homemade food and baked goods are incredible, and the free Wi-Fi gives me a chance to recharge both my electronics and catch up on editing videos and writing these daily blogs.
Breakfast was simple perfection—two eggs over easy, crispy bacon, home fries, toast, and a hot cup of Americano coffee.
Today wasn’t about riding motorcycles.
It was about resting.
God Himself established the importance of rest. Even Jesus often withdrew from the crowds to spend time with His Father. Sometimes the most productive thing we can do is pause, breathe, and allow God to refresh both our bodies and our spirits before continuing the journey.
We’ll remain here until Sunday, giving ourselves time to recharge before tackling more miles on the road. I’ve fallen behind on editing our YouTube videos from the first two weeks of our adventure, so much of my day would be spent catching up while continuing to share this journey with all of you following along.
After breakfast, God provided one of those beautiful divine appointments we’ve come to expect.
We decided to bless Shelly, the cheerful cashier at the mercantile store next door. In true Chicken fashion, she also works at the liquor store and serves as the bartender at the tavern. All the businesses are connected by a common hallway, and every time we walked in, her warm smile and joyful personality made us feel welcome.
Earlier in our trip, our friend Marvin had given us money specifically to bless people we met along the way. We still had some left.
We handed Shelly a Gospel tract with the money tucked inside and simply told her that we felt God had led us to bless her today.
Immediately, her eyes filled with tears.
“I really do need this blessing,” she quietly said.
“Thank you.”
Those words reminded me that we never know what someone else is carrying. God often uses ordinary people willing to listen to His prompting to meet extraordinary needs. We prayed a short prayer over her before leaving, asking God to continue pouring His blessings into her life.
That simple moment became the highlight of our day.
This journey has never been just about reaching Alaska. It’s about being available for whatever God places in front of us.
The cool mountain wind followed us back to the cabin where I settled into several hours of video editing while Melvin spent time tinkering with the motorcycles.
By lunchtime, I needed a break.
Naturally, we found ourselves back at the Chicken Creek Café.
I enjoyed a warm slice of apple-cherry pie topped with vanilla ice cream, while Melvin ordered one of their incredible cinnamon rolls covered with rich cinnamon cream cheese frosting. At this point, their bakery has become our favorite lunch destination.
While we were enjoying dessert, we met a friendly couple from France traveling with two small dogs. What immediately caught our attention wasn’t the dogs—it was the enormous vehicle they were driving.
Melvin couldn’t resist asking questions and taking pictures.
Later I discovered it was likely a Global Expedition Vehicles Patagonia, an impressive off-road expedition motorhome built on a Kenworth chassis. Complete with solar panels, a queen-size bed, and a wet bath, it looked ready to travel almost anywhere in the world.
It’s amazing how people pursue adventure in so many different ways.
As they continued on their journey, another opportunity appeared.
We noticed a gentleman struggling to walk as he entered the café with his teenage daughter. Before long, Melvin and I were able to pray with him, asking God to bring healing and renewed strength. Whether God heals instantly or through time, we know He always hears the prayers of His children.
The afternoon found me back at my laptop while Melvin took the drone a few miles down the road near the local airport to capture some incredible mountain scenery. By the time he returned, the skies had cleared, the wind had calmed, and the afternoon had turned into one of those beautiful Alaska days that makes you want to simply sit and soak it all in.
We grabbed a cold soft drink and relaxed on the back deck while classic ’70s music played softly in the background.
Suddenly, we heard the unmistakable sound of a helicopter overhead.
“It looks like it’s going to land,” Melvin said.
Sure enough, moments later it settled right onto the campground lawn.
The blue-and-white helicopter belonged to the Alaska State Troopers.
We laughed and joked that maybe they had come looking for Melvin after he flew the drone near the airport earlier that afternoon.
Thankfully, they were simply stopping by the café for lunch.
Apparently, flying into Chicken is a much easier trip than driving the Taylor Highway!
We had a good laugh when we realized they weren’t there for him after all.
Later that evening, while Melvin headed off for a shower, I visited with Andrea from Germany. She and her husband are on an incredible two-year bicycle tour around North America. They had recently flown their bicycles into Inuvik, Yukon, before riding the rugged Dempster Highway and then tackling the Top of the World Highway—the very road I found challenging even on a motorcycle with heated grips.
Now they were making their way toward Banff National Park before continuing through British Columbia, into the United States, visiting national parks like Yellowstone, and eventually cycling all the way to Mexico.
What an incredible adventure!
Her husband had been struggling with back pain, so once again God gave us another opportunity to pray—for healing, renewed strength, and safe travels.
One thing I’ve learned during this journey is that every traveler carries a story.
Some are chasing dreams.
Some are searching for purpose.
Some are simply trying to make it through another day.
If we had simply ridden through Chicken without stopping, we would have missed every one of these conversations and every one of these opportunities to encourage others.
Sometimes slowing down is exactly where God wants us to be.
We ended the evening with pizza for dinner before walking over to town for the local sandbag-throwing tournament.
Tomorrow promises to be another unique Alaska experience as Chicken celebrates the Fourth of July with festivities and a community picnic hosted by the local post office.
Tonight will be our final evening in the comfort of this little cabin before returning to our tent tomorrow.
As I reflect on today, I’m reminded that rest isn’t wasted time when it’s spent with the Lord. God refreshed our bodies, renewed our spirits, introduced us to fascinating people from around the world, and opened doors for us to encourage and pray for others. Sometimes the greatest miles we travel aren’t measured on a motorcycle odometer—they’re measured in the lives God allows us to touch along the way.
Until tomorrow…
God bless