On April 10, 1901, Karl sailed to England, working passage on a trading vessel. It had been a difficult journey overall for Karl in Egypt. He wrote: “In India the roads were splendid and wheeling was a pleasure, but when I got into Egypt, I had a walk of about 300 miles. In fact, the only riding I did was along the banks of the Suez Canal, a few yards at a time. The hot winds in Egypt played havoc with the patches on the tires. Often no sooner I fastened on an old patch that the heat had loosened, than another one would break away.”
Upon leaving Egypt, Karl had travelled 11,100 miles by land and 25,150 miles by sea. Karl’s ship, the S.S. Cousius Arbib, left Alexandria on April 10th, arrived at Malta on April 14th, “touched” Gibraltar on April 19th, and then arrived in Hull, England, on April 27, 1901.
Dear reader, this is a great time to remind you that although I’m following Karl worldwide, my journey doesn't precisely mirror his. Now, as we delve into the next leg, encompassing Great Britain and Ireland, I'll unravel the intricacies of Karl's route compared to mine.
Karl's arrival in Hull kickstarted a trio of visits to England during his global adventure.
He pedalled north, reaching Edinburgh on May 8, 1901, commencing his exploration of Scotland. On June 14, 1901, Karl set sail from Glasgow to Waterford, Ireland, circling the island, covering 800 miles, and returning to Waterford. The journey continued as he boarded a boat to Southampton, England, explored London, sailed to Oostende, Belgium, and finally arrived in New Haven on the S.S. Paris from Dieppe, France, on July 31, 1901. His route led him through Wales to Liverpool, securing passage to Saint John, New Brunswick.
Having completed Karl's journeys through Ireland (Leg 3) and Scotland (Leg 8), my upcoming adventures will be to travel to the locations he visited in England and Wales (Leg 12). In this segment, my route will be more streamlined than Karl's. I will start the Chronicles in London, then travel by train to Wales, progressing west and north, crossing into England at Chester, and meandering through the northeast, retracing Karl's path to Scotland.
As we prepare to explore England and Wales, here are glimpses of Malta, showcasing the main island and Valetta, the capital city, where Karl's boat docked. Recognized by UNESCO for its historical and cultural significance, Valletta's 16th-century buildings exude "outstanding universal value."
If you are new to the Karl Chronicles, get caught up on our expedition around the world! Start here 150 highlights from 150 Chronicles
Then get caught up on the rest of our journey, click here for more Karl Chronicles
The Karl Journey is now registered as an official expedition with the Royal Geographical Society