Mark Twain, with his wife Livy and daughter Clara, went on an around-the-world lecture tour from May of 1895 to August of 1896. He chronicled to journey in his book "Following the Equator". His book did not include the first leg of this journey, crossing the North American continent to Victoria, British Columbia, where he took ship. This first leg was described in his tour manager's, James B. Pond, chronicle. This publication uses Pond's journal as a basis for describing the cities, towns and villages, the hotels and venues used and the railroads involved in the journey.