Divine Appointments in Ketchikan

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” — Psalm 37:23 (KJV)

The ferry quietly pulled into Ketchikan around 4:30 a.m., but I was still fast asleep in our cozy state room. The gentle rocking of the ship had become a familiar lullaby. When the alarm sounded at 6:30, excitement quickly replaced sleepiness. Today we would finally get to explore Ketchikan!

I quietly got dressed and made my way to the snack bar to grab coffee for Melvin and me. He was still sound asleep when I left, but if there’s one thing I know about my husband, it’s that the aroma of fresh coffee is almost as effective as an alarm clock. Sure enough, by the time I returned, he was awake with a smile.

By 8:30 we climbed into a yellow taxi waiting outside the ferry terminal.

“Please take us to the Pioneer Café,” I said.

Melvin sat in the front seat while I rode in the back. Before long, the conversation turned from small talk into something much deeper.

Our driver’s name was Jeremiah. Melvin asked if he enjoyed driving a taxi, and Jeremiah admitted that while he appreciated the work, his heart belonged on the open sea. He had once served as a first mate on the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system before leaving the job to spend more time at home with his family. What began as a conversation about careers quickly became a discussion about faith versus religion.

Jeremiah shared the story of a serious car accident his family had been in the previous year and how he believed God had miraculously spared their lives. We listened as he spoke with gratitude, reminded again that God is always at work drawing people to Himself.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” — Romans 8:28

Those moments reminded me once again that this journey has never just been about motorcycles or scenery. It’s been about people. God continues to arrange divine appointments in the most unexpected places—even inside a taxi.

The Pioneer Café was everything you’d hope a classic American diner would be. A charming 1950s theme welcomed us with black-and-white checkered floors, red leather booths, a long counter lined with wooden stools, and the comforting smell of breakfast filling the room.

Melvin ordered French toast while I chose the blueberry pancakes.

As we waited, Amelia—someone we’d met aboard the ferry—walked through the door. There happened to be an empty stool beside us.

“Come sit with us,” I said. “We’re on the same ship!”

She gladly joined us.

Amelia is from Germany and is traveling solo through Alaska. She loves hiking remote backcountry trails and searching for wildlife. We enjoyed sharing stories about our adventures and told her about our mission—to spread the love of Jesus wherever He leads us.

We invited her to visit us someday in the Adirondacks, and before leaving, we had the privilege of blessing her by paying for her breakfast.

It wasn’t a grand gesture, but sometimes the smallest acts of kindness speak the loudest.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16

After breakfast we wandered through downtown Ketchikan toward Mission Street to photograph the famous “Welcome to Ketchikan” sign stretching across the road.

From there we walked toward the visitor center where the massive cruise ships towered over the harbor. The waterfront buzzed with visitors from all over the world, yet there was still a peaceful charm about the town.

As we strolled along the boardwalk, we unexpectedly ran into Grant and his wife Kelly, whom we’d met the night before at dinner. Grant had shared the incredible story of surviving a terrible accident involving an iceberg. After chatting for a few minutes, they encouraged us to walk up the creek to watch the salmon.

So we did.

Creek Street felt like stepping into another era. Built on wooden stilts over Ketchikan Creek in the early 1900s because the mountainside was too steep to build upon, it once served as Ketchikan’s famous red-light district and bootlegging hub until the brothels were closed in 1954.

Today it’s filled with colorful historic buildings, charming gift shops, art galleries, and museums.

But what captured our attention most wasn’t the history—it was the salmon.

Hundreds of them fought their way upstream, leaping against the rushing current with incredible determination. Watching them press forward despite every obstacle reminded me of the Christian life.

Following Christ isn’t always easy. The current often pushes against us. There are obstacles, disappointments, and seasons when moving forward feels exhausting.

Yet God calls us to persevere.

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” — Isaiah 40:31

Those salmon simply kept swimming.

What a beautiful picture of faithful endurance.

Back on Main Street we wandered into a small Alaska snack shop where we met Bob, who was traveling north aboard one of the large cruise ships to Skagway. We talked about salmon fishing before giving him one of our “What Would Jesus Ride?” gospel tracts. He smiled and shared that his dream motorcycle is a Husqvarna.

One more divine appointment.

Next, we wandered into a fur shop where, naturally, Melvin couldn’t resist trying on one of the luxurious coats. After slipping into a beautiful lynx coat carrying a price tag of nearly $20,000, we laughed, snapped a picture, thanked the shop owner, and moved on.

From there we visited the Harley-Davidson store and browsed a few local shops before deciding it was time for ice cream.

We found a wonderful little chocolate shop called Forget-Me-Not that served homemade ice cream alongside handcrafted chocolates. Their menu featured unique fruit flavors from Peru along with classic favorites.

Melvin chose the rich Belgian chocolate while I enjoyed creamy peanut butter and vanilla.

It was absolutely delicious.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights…” — James 1:17

Sometimes God’s blessings are found in mountaintop moments.

Sometimes they’re found in an ice cream cone shared with the one you love.

By 1:00 p.m. it was time to head back to the ferry. Another friendly taxi driver carried us back to the terminal, and once again the conversation flowed easily. It’s amazing how God can open doors for meaningful conversations with complete strangers.

After boarding, we headed down to the motorcycle deck to tighten the chain on Gracie one more time and load the bags we wouldn’t need until arriving in Bellingham. Then we enjoyed a short nap before returning to the lounge to watch local fishing boats working the waters around Ketchikan.

Around 3:00 we grabbed a soft pretzel and soda from the snack bar and visited once again with Adam, the retired gentleman traveling with his son. As we talked, the ferry slowly slipped away from the dock and back into the waters of Southeast Alaska.

Tomorrow would be a full day at sea before arriving in Bellingham, Washington.

That evening we headed to the dining room for supper. While waiting in line, we ran into Eddie from Mt. Vernon, Illinois, whom we’d first met back at the Haines ferry terminal. He rides a Honda 750 and invited us to join him along with his friends Joe from Georgia, who rides an Africa Twin, and Shawn from Ohio, who rides a BMW Boxer GS.

For the next couple of hours we swapped stories about riding Alaska’s incredible highways, favorite campgrounds, unforgettable wildlife encounters, and dreams of future motorcycle adventures.

The time disappeared.

As we talked, the sun slowly settled toward the horizon, painting the sky with brilliant shades of orange, pink, and gold beyond the dining room windows.

Before the evening ended, Eddie quietly blessed us by paying for our dinner.

Once again, God reminded us that His people are generous, encouraging, and always looking for ways to bless others.

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2

As I stepped outside to capture one last photo of the breathtaking sunset, I couldn’t help but reflect on the day.

We had come to Ketchikan expecting beautiful scenery.

Instead, God gave us something even better.

Conversations.

Encouragement.

Opportunities to share Jesus.

Unexpected generosity.

And reminders that every person we meet is someone deeply loved by Him.

What a beautiful day of divine appointments.

If you’ve been following along on this incredible 66-day adventure, thank you for riding with us. Your prayers, encouragement, and support mean more than you’ll ever know. We’d love for you to continue the journey by subscribing to our YouTube channel and following us on Facebook at Wrights On A Mission.

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. Every mile is another opportunity to share His love, witness His faithfulness, and glorify the One who is directing every step.