Dear reader,

Over 100 chronicles ago, on July 30, 2022, I shared Karl Chronicles #79: What We Saw Along the Way, summarizing a 1400-kilometer stretch from Emerson, Manitoba, south into the United States, and northwest to Waterton National Park, Alberta. At the time of Karl’s travels, Alberta was part of the North-West Territories under the Dominion of Canada. His westward journey led him toward British Columbia (BC), known then for its booming mining frontier.

Two years later, I’m reconnecting with Karl’s path, starting in Crowsnest, BC, to complete the final North American leg of his journey. Over the past 23 posts, we’ve followed Karl across rugged terrain, burgeoning towns, and rich historical landscapes. Let’s take a moment to retrace some highlights from this chapter of his adventure:

In Post #180, I left England behind to resume Karl’s journey in Crowsnest, BC, where snow and sleet forced him to carry his bicycle for miles.
In Post #183, Karl witnessed the rise of mining towns like Elko and Cranbrook, as the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) began exporting valuable minerals.
Post #187 brought us to Rossland, where the gold rush attracted a mix of fortune-seekers and history-makers.
By Post #190, Karl crossed the border into Spokane, Washington, navigating the region’s interconnected railways, while I retraced his steps through towns that have since transformed.
In Post #192, Karl reached Seattle shortly after its great fire of 1889, observing a city rising from ashes—far from the modern metropolis I visited.
As the journey continued, we explored Puget Sound’s islands (Post #195), retraced Karl’s path through muddy Whatcom County (Post #196), and reflected on his time in Vancouver, where he connected with fellow Nova Scotians (Post #197).

These posts weave together Karl’s accounts of North America’s transformation at the turn of the 20th century with my reflections on how these places continue to evolve. From the booming mining regions of BC to Seattle’s rebirth and Vancouver’s Nova Scotian ties, each stop offers a glimpse of history in motion.

As we near the conclusion of Karl’s North American journey, I invite you to revisit some of my favourite chronicles that brought us here:

Thank you for accompanying Karl and me on this leg of our journey. And stay tuned next week as we leave North America for Australia! I hope you join me.