Nine days after his return, Karl was scheduled to give a lecture in his hometown, his first at home after getting his “orator chops” seasoned and tested in Australia. There were several advertisements in the newspaper as follows:
KARL CREELMAN, The Truro Globe Trotter having wheeled around the world on his “Red Bird” Bicycle in a little over two years, will deliver a lecture in GUNN’S OPERA HOUSE, TRURO, Friday Evening, Sept. 13th,1901. At 8:30 O’clock.
On his thrilling experiences. Among other things, he will tell of the Nova Scotians, including many Colchester people whom he met in foreign lands. A story by a Truro boy of great interest to everyone in the county. Do not fail to hear it. Prices: Reserved Seats -35 cents, General Admission -25 cents, Young People under fifteen -15 cents.
This will be the most marvellous recital of over two years’ worldwide adventure, ever heard in Truro. Remember the night, put all other engagements aside and “pack the Opera House from turret to foundation stone”.
Gunns Opera House, with seating for 850 guests, opened to great fanfare on Inglis Street on June 25, 1894. The Truro Daily News issued a stern warning to Colchester County residents: a police officer would be present at every performance, and any whistling, catcalling, unruly behaviour, or tobacco spitting would be "dealt with severely."
In the years that followed, the opera house became a vibrant hub of culture and entertainment, hosting numerous memorable performances and generating considerable excitement within the community. Five years before Karl took to the stage, Harry Houdini performed at Truro's Gunn Opera House during his tour of the Canadian Maritimes in 1896.
On the night of Karl’s lecture, a supplementary article was published:
Around the World Tonight - Karl Creelman in the Opera House.
The most unique entertainment that has ever been given in our Opera House will come off tonight, when Mr. Karl Creelman, our own “Globe Trotter” will give a running talk on some of the many exciting experiences he has had in cycling around this great world since he left us 28 months ago.
No one ever wheeled around this Earth before*. It was left for a Canadian to do this - for a plucky Truro boy to bear his country’s flag on 50,000 miles of travel, nearly 15,000 of which were spent astride his own famous “Red Bird” bicycle.
Mr. Creelman will tell of the omnipresent Nova Scotian that “bobbed up” before him, in many distant lands. His trusty and faithful “Red Bird” his deliverer from more than one peril on this globe encircling journey, will be exhibited on the stage in its tire-less condition in which it made its last two miles of the homeward journey.
With a globe beside him, this youthful hero and lecturer will point out the places he has visited as he travelled West, till at the 180th meridian he commenced to travel East, to complete his homeward circle.
Rev. P.M. McDonald has kindly consented to preside, and formally introduce the young lecturer. Mrs. Hill, as will be seen by announcement elsewhere will vary the GlobeTrotter’s Talk with some fine selections from her well filled repertoire. This in itself is always a treat.
At 8:15 pm, the lecture started with Mrs T. Hill, the ever-popular pianist, playing three pieces:
1st - Under Fire by Albert Russell
2nd - Goldfischchen (Goldfishes Mazurka Op 158) by Carl Heins
3rd - The Pickanninny Cake Walk, Two Step by Carlotta Williamson
All were well pleased with the young adventurer’s lecture. Rev. P.M. McDonald was a perfect chairman, and Mrs T. Hill gave a fine programme of music at the beginning of the entertainment.
When Karl took to the stage, he was greeted with applause. He made a good appearance and displayed an exceedingly pleasing clear and distinct delivery, going through his entire lecture without the least hesitance or sign of nervousness. This lecture was a vivid picture of his travels, with several humorous jokes to make it spicy.
At 10 o’clock the audience sang “God Save the King” and that concluded the evening.
Sadly, like so many wooden buildings of the era, Gunns Opera House was destroyed by fire on October 1, 1901, just weeks after Karl’s triumphant return.
*Although no other Canadian had wheeled around the world, Karl was not the first to do so globally. By the time he set off, a few other cyclists had already made headlines:
Thomas Stevens (1884–1886) became the first person to bicycle around the world on a penny-farthing.
William Sachtleben and Thomas G. Allen Jr. (1890–1893) were two American students who journeyed more than 18,000 miles across Europe and Asia on safety bicycles.
Annie Londonderry (1894–1895) the first woman to bicycle around the world, completing a daring and well-publicized trip in just over a year.
It’s speculated there could be others who didn’t have their journeys as well documented, but there’s no question when Karl rolled away from Truro in 1899, and returned back in 1901, he was unequivocally the first Canadian to complete a round-the-world bicycle journey.
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The Karl Journey is registered as an official expedition with the Royal Geographical Society