Day 44 of 66: God’s Provision on the Gravel Roads

“The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength.” — Isaiah 58:11

What an incredible night’s sleep we had in the warm, cozy cabin at Discovery Yukon Lodge. After several nights in the tent, that little cabin felt like such a gift from the Lord. It’s amazing how God provides exactly what we need, exactly when we need it.

I quietly put on a pot of coffee in the drip coffee maker before slipping into the shower while Melvin enjoyed sleeping in a little longer. The evening before, I had picked up two shortbread pastries filled with raspberry jam from the lodge. This morning I added a scoop of peanut butter to each one and warmed them in the microwave. Before long, the aroma of fresh coffee and warm pastries drifted through the cabin. That was all it took! Melvin finally climbed out of bed and joined me at the little kitchenette table.

We weren’t in any rush. We savored our breakfast, our coffee, and the peaceful morning. Sometimes the sweetest moments of a journey aren’t found on the road but in the quiet pauses where God reminds us to simply be still.

By 9:30 a.m. we were geared up and back on the bikes. The morning air was much cooler, so every layer we packed found its way onto our bodies. The road started out paved but soon gave way to loose gravel and dirt. A water truck had obviously been through earlier, wetting down the road to keep the dust under control.

Not long after, we rode into a light rain shower. Normally rain isn’t our favorite riding companion, but on a gravel road it actually helped keep the dust down. Sometimes what first appears to be an inconvenience is actually God’s provision in disguise. Isn’t that often how He works? His ways are higher than ours, even when we don’t immediately understand them. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

This stretch of the Alaska Highway through the Yukon is incredibly remote. There were no towns and no gas stations, so our first stop came about an hour later at a scenic rest area with two simple outhouses and an unforgettable overlook of the Kluane Mountains and river below. Melvin launched the drone while I soaked in the incredible beauty surrounding us.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” (Psalm 19:1)

No photograph or drone footage could truly capture what we were seeing with our own eyes.

Back on the highway, we descended toward a small village nestled along Kluane Lake. The view stopped us in our tracks. The lake was perfectly still, reflecting the towering mountains and fluffy white clouds like polished glass. It was one of those moments where all you could do was whisper, “Thank You, Lord.”

As we rolled through the village, a sign caught my eye.

Bakery.

“Hey, that sounds good,” I called over the communicator. “Maybe we can get some coffee and baked goods!”

You don’t have to ask Melvin twice when coffee and dessert are involved!

He made a quick U-turn, and I followed him down a gravel road almost to the lake where we found the Black Sheep Bakery. The owners, Pauly Sias and Jady Hurlburt, welcomed us with warm smiles. The display case was overflowing with homemade goodness as Jady happily listed everything they had—rhubarb pie, apple pie, cinnamon rolls, cookies, brownies, and even homemade potato soup.

Needless to say, we had no trouble deciding.

We ordered a slice of each pie topped with ice cream, and Melvin couldn’t resist adding a bowl of potato soup.

While we enjoyed our unexpected feast, another couple came in and sat beside us. They introduced themselves as Jody and Mark from Arizona, though they spend every summer in Atlin, British Columbia, where Mark enjoys gold mining. Jody described Atlin as the “Little Switzerland of the North.” With only about 400 year-round residents, it sounded like another hidden gem we’d love to visit someday.

Before we left, Melvin shared one of our gospel tracts with Mark. It’s become one of our favorite parts of this journey—meeting people we never expected to meet and simply planting seeds wherever God opens the door.

Back on the dusty highway, it was only about thirty more miles to Haines Junction. We filled our gas tanks and stopped at the Green Apple grocery store. It was surprisingly small—smaller than many gas station convenience stores back home.

As we parked, I noticed a young man’s eyes light up when he spotted Melvin’s Honda Africa Twin.

“I couldn’t help but say, ‘Hello! How are you today?’”

With a French accent he replied, “Very well, thank you.”

Then he smiled and pointed at the bike.

“I’m saving up for one just like that. It’s my dream. I love off-roading. My truck is set up for overlanding.”

He proudly pointed to his truck, and it truly was an impressive setup.

We introduced ourselves, and he told us his name was Joel. He was 29 years old, originally from New Brunswick, and would be spending the fall caring for sled dogs in the Yukon.

We gave him one of our “What Would Jesus Ride?” gospel tracts.

After reading the cover, he laughed and said, “Jesus would ride both the Honda and the BMW!”

We all laughed together.

Then the conversation became much deeper.

Joel shared that he had recently lost his father. Not long afterward, he saw another truck with the exact same sign that had been on his dad’s truck. That moment caused him to stop and wonder if there was more to life than what we can see.

“It made me realize there had to be a spiritual connection,” he said. “That’s when I started believing.”

Only God could orchestrate a conversation like that.

We were able to give Joel a copy of The Spoken Word (which is the Gospel of John) and a copy of the Hope for the Highway (New Testament with psalms and proverbs). He sincerely thanked us before we parted ways.

As we rode away, I couldn’t help but think about how many divine appointments God has placed along this journey. Every delay, every detour, every campground, every bakery, every grocery store… none of it has been accidental.

“A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?” (Proverbs 20:24)

After picking up groceries for dinner, we headed toward Kathleen Lake Campground. We hadn’t made reservations, knowing there were a handful of first-come, first-served campsites available. The whole ride there, I quietly prayed that God would provide a place for us to stay.

When we arrived around 5:00 p.m., there was only one campsite left. The sign read:

“If unoccupied after 7:30 p.m., this site becomes available.”

So…we waited.

Instead of worrying, we made the most of the time. I cooked ravioli with sauce on our Jetboil while Melvin took more pictures to capture more of God’s beautiful creation. After dinner, I worked on writing today’s blog, updated our DigiCrumbs tracker with our new location, charged batteries, and uploaded footage while we patiently waited.

At exactly 7:00 p.m., no one had claimed the site.

God had provided once again.

Sometimes His answer isn’t immediate. Sometimes He simply asks us to wait faithfully until His perfect timing unfolds.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)

Tomorrow we leave the Yukon behind and cross back into Alaska as we make our way to Haines. We’ll spend one more night in our tent before boarding the ferry early Monday morning for the Inside Passage.

I’m incredibly excited for this next chapter of the adventure, yet it’s also bittersweet. Our time in Alaska is slowly coming to an end, and soon we’ll begin the journey through the Lower 48 toward home.

One thing this trip has reminded us over and over again is that no matter where the road leads, God is already there. Whether we’re riding smooth pavement, dusty gravel, or waiting patiently for an open campsite, His faithfulness never changes.

If you’ve been following along on this incredible 66-day adventure, thank you for riding with us. We would love for you to continue the journey by subscribing to our YouTube channel and following us on Facebook @wrightsonamission.

Until tomorrow…keep your eyes on the road, your heart fixed on Jesus, and never stop looking for the divine appointments He places along the way.