Turning East: The Adventure Isn’t Over Yet

The alarm sounded at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time. After spending the night aboard the ferry, we were both up and headed to the snack bar for an early breakfast. Today was the day we would dock in Bellingham, Washington, at 8:00 a.m.—and just like that, our time on the Alaska Marine Highway was coming to an end.

We had scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, and, of course, some very much-needed coffee to get us going.

As we made our way around the ship, we saw some of the biker friends we had gotten to know along the way. We exchanged hugs, handshakes, and goodbyes, knowing that our paths might not cross again. It was another one of those moments that made me realize how many incredible people God had placed along our path during this journey.

The ferry was slowly approaching the dock, so we headed toward the back of the vessel to watch the crew bring her in. It was already warm outside at 7:30 in the morning. What a change from the cool Alaska mornings we had grown accustomed to!

We watched as the vessel slowly approached the pier and the crew worked to secure her to the pilings. Once we were docked, everything suddenly went from peaceful to GO!

We had to move quickly to gather the rest of our belongings from our room, turn in our keys, and head down to the car deck to pack and unstrap the motorcycles.

The corridors were jammed with people and luggage as everyone hurried toward their vehicles. At one point, I asked a group waiting for the elevator if I could squeeze by. They kindly let me through, but Melvin was still behind me.

“That’s my husband. He needs to get through too,” I said.

One of the ladies jokingly replied, “You sure you want him too?”

Everyone laughed, and they let him through.

Finally, we made it down to the car deck—and it was even more chaotic.

I was trying to get the cameras mounted back on the bikes, connect our Sena communication devices to our helmets, open the panniers, pack everything, and get my riding gear and boots on, all while Melvin was trying to get the motorcycles untied from the deck.

Cars were pulling out all around us as they disembarked from the ferry. Some came within inches of our bikes. It was definitely not the peaceful, leisurely morning we had started with!

Then they began releasing the motorcycles.

First Melvin.

Then another biker.

Then it was my turn.

I climbed onto Gracie, started her up, and tried to back out.

Nothing.

She wouldn’t budge.

I tried again.

Still nothing.

The crew member watching me finally signaled for me to wait.

Then it hit us.

In all the rushing around, we had forgotten to remove the wheel chock from Gracie’s rear wheel!

Thankfully, the crew member removed it, and finally I was on my way up the ramp and off the ferry.

Melvin was waiting for me in the parking lot underneath a tree. I told him what happened, and he just chuckled.

I guess after everything Gracie and I have been through together, one more little adventure wasn’t going to surprise him!

Once we were safely off the ferry, we could finally slow down. We took a few minutes to adjust our gear, tighten our bags, and get everything settled without feeling like we were racing the clock.

We plugged our destination into the GPS, climbed back onto the bikes, and finally pulled away.

As we rode out of the parking lot, I couldn’t help but look in the rearview mirror.

Behind us was the last little piece of our Alaska adventure.

For nearly seven weeks, Alaska had been our destination. We had chased mountains, glaciers, wildlife, rivers, oceans, gravel roads, sunshine, rain, and midnight sunsets. We had experienced breakdowns, unexpected repairs, divine appointments, answered prayers, generous strangers, new friendships, and God’s protection in ways we could never have planned.

And now Alaska was disappearing in the rearview mirror.

There was a little sadness in that.

But there was also excitement.

Because the adventure wasn’t over.

Not even close.

We stopped for gas before getting on Route 5 South and then picked up Route 2 East.

And if you think about it, this was a pretty significant moment.

For the first time since we left New York on June 19th, we were finally pointing our motorcycles EAST!

We were officially turning toward home.

But home was still more than 3,000 miles away.

There were still miles to ride, people to visit, places to see, stories to tell, and memories waiting to be made.

God wasn’t finished writing this story yet.

Sometimes we think the destination is the most important part of the journey, but God has a way of reminding us that He is just as present in the journey home as He was in the journey out.

Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

We had planned this journey, but God had established our steps.

And He wasn’t done yet.

We headed east on Route 2 toward Stevens Pass. As we climbed toward the mountains, the temperature dropped and the cool mountain air returned. I had my vented riding gear on because I expected the day to be warm, so I definitely felt that coolness!

And I loved every minute of it.

Stevens Pass was absolutely beautiful.

Rivers and streams wound their way through the mountains while towering peaks surrounded us. But as beautiful as the scenery was, the smoke from the wildfires burning across Washington had begun to change the landscape.

In the distance, a thick haze hung over the mountains.

As we climbed higher, visibility became more limited, but even through the smoke, God’s creation was still breathtaking.

Psalm 19:1 came to mind:

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky displays his handiwork.”

Even when the smoke obscured the view, God’s handiwork was still there.

Sometimes that’s how life is.

The circumstances can create a haze. We can’t see as clearly as we’d like. The road ahead may not look the way we expected it to.

But God is still there.

His faithfulness doesn’t disappear just because our visibility is limited.

We eventually dropped out of the mountains and arrived in Leavenworth, Washington.

What a beautiful, quaint little town tucked into the Cascades! The Bavarian-style architecture made it feel like we had suddenly been transported to another place and another time. The Tudor and Bavarian buildings throughout the town center were absolutely charming.

We stopped at Argonaut Coffee & Biscuits right on the main street.

It was exactly what we needed.

Melvin ordered an Americano, and I had a cappuccino. We each grabbed a homemade granola bar, and we sat for a few minutes enjoying the break.

Then, as has happened so many times on this journey, a simple coffee stop became something more.

Melvin began talking with the man and woman behind the counter and had an opportunity to share the Gospel with them. They were receptive and genuinely interested in listening as he shared the Good News.

But eventually, the store began filling with customers, so we finished our coffee, thanked them, and headed back out to the motorcycles.

Another stop.

Another conversation.

Another divine appointment.

We’ve learned that sometimes God’s appointments don’t look dramatic.

Sometimes they look like a cup of coffee.

Sometimes they look like a conversation with a stranger.

Sometimes they look like a motorcycle pulled up at the right place at exactly the right time.

And sometimes they look like a couple of tired travelers simply being willing to stop and listen.

We kept riding.

We had more than 400 miles ahead of us, so it was going to be a long day.

The cool mountain air didn’t last long.

As we descended, the temperature climbed into the mid-90s. Standing still was almost unbearable. I felt like I was melting!

At that point, a warm breeze was definitely better than no breeze at all, so we kept the bikes moving.

Before getting onto Interstate 90, we stopped to hydrate and cool down with some water and ice cream. Then we climbed back onto the bikes and started making miles.

But the farther east we traveled, the worse the smoke became.

Eventually, visibility was reduced to less than a half-mile in some places. You could smell the smoke, and it irritated your eyes and throat.

We stopped for gas one more time before making our way into Spokane.

And, of course, we arrived right around rush hour.

City traffic.

Stop and go.

97 degrees.

Motorcycle gear.

And smoke hanging in the air.

By this point, sweat was dripping off of me, and my face felt like it was on fire. I looked down at the temperature on Gracie’s dash.

97 degrees!

I thought about how just a few days earlier we had been bundled up in cool Alaska temperatures.

Now we were sweating our way across Washington.

What a difference a few days—and a few hundred miles—can make!

We finally made it through the city and headed toward Hauser Lake, where we would meet our new CMA friends, Rusty and Linda.

Rusty met us at the Hauser Lake City Hall and led us back to their home.

As we pulled in, we knew immediately we had arrived somewhere special.

Their home was tucked away from the main road, surrounded by beautiful flowers and plants that made the property feel warm and inviting.

Linda came out to greet us, eager to finally meet us in person.

She gave us big hugs—and honestly, we were absolutely drenched in sweat from the day’s ride.

But they didn’t care one bit.

They welcomed us just as we were.

And then came the hospitality.

Iced tea was waiting for us.

And then they brought out dinner—barbecue ribs, corn on the cob, coleslaw, and cucumber salad.

It was absolutely amazing.

But there was something even more meaningful happening around that dinner table.

Some friends from their church were staying with them because they had been evacuated from their homes due to the raging wildfires.

Their homes weren’t safe.

Their community was being threatened.

And yet, here we were sitting together, sharing a meal, laughing, talking, and telling stories.

They were fascinated by our Alaska adventure, and we loved sharing the stories of the people God had placed along our path.

We talked about the breakdowns.

The repairs.

The rain.

The mountains.

The ferries.

The wildlife.

The unexpected help.

The people who opened their homes to us.

The strangers who became friends.

And through every story, one theme kept coming back:

God has been faithful.

He has protected us.

He has provided for us.

He has opened doors.

He has placed people in our path at exactly the right moment.

He has answered prayers we prayed before we even knew how they would be answered.

And He has reminded us over and over again that we are never traveling alone.

Psalm 121:8 says:

“The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

What a perfect verse for this journey.

God has watched over our coming.

And now He is watching over our going.

We continued talking long after dinner, sharing stories over a delicious pie for dessert.

Eventually, Melvin and Rusty headed outside to give Gracie some much-needed TLC.

I had ordered replacement parts for her, and Rusty and Linda had graciously picked them up for me.

After everything I’ve put that motorcycle through, she deserved a little attention!

Melvin and Rusty replaced her brake lever and tail light, and when they finished, Gracie was about as good as she could be considering everything she’s been through on this adventure.

Another answered prayer.

Another provision.

Another reminder that God keeps taking care of the details.

We finally took much-needed showers, said goodnight to our new friends, and settled in for the evening.

Then it was time to upload footage, charge the cameras and equipment, and write today’s blog.

Day 50.

Fifty days.

When we left New York on June 19th, 66 days seemed like such a long time.

Now we’re already at Day 50.

Only 16 days remain.

And although we are officially heading east toward home, I don’t feel like the adventure is ending.

I feel like God is simply turning the page.

Alaska was never the whole story.

It was one chapter.

And now we’re beginning another.

We still have miles ahead of us.

More people to meet.

More stories to tell.

More roads to travel.

More memories to make.

And most importantly, more opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus wherever the road takes us.

If you’ve been following along on this incredible 66-day adventure, thank you for riding with us.

Thank you for every prayer.

Every message.

Every word of encouragement.

Every person who has followed along, shared a post, watched a video, or simply prayed for our safety.

You have been part of this journey too.

And if you want to continue riding along with us as we make our way back across the country, we’d love to have you join us on YouTube and Facebook at Wrights On A Mission.

Because the bikes may be pointed toward home now…

But the mission continues.

Until tomorrow…

Keep your eyes on the road, your heart fixed on Christ, and never stop following wherever He leads.