# Blind Travel explained — The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle

> Chapter companion for The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting.

## What happens

Tommy tries to cheer up the Doctor after the news of Long Arrow's disappearance. The Doctor, feeling lost, proposes a game called 'Blind Travel' to decide their next voyage. Tommy is thrilled and they prepare to play, with the Doctor revealing he has already discovered the North Pole but kept it secret at the request of the polar bears.

## Themes in this chapter

### Adventure and Exploration

The Doctor and Tommy decide their next voyage through the game of Blind Travel, emphasizing the thrill of unknown destinations.

### Friendship and Loyalty

Tommy tries to cheer the Doctor after sad news, showing their close bond.

### Education and Curiosity

The Doctor's desire to learn the language of shellfish and explore the sea, and Tommy's fascination with the atlas, highlight their curiosity.

## Character check-ins

### Doctor Dolittle

Upset by the news of Long Arrow's disappearance, but cheers up when proposing the 'Blind Travel' game; reveals he discovered the North Pole in 1809.

### Tommy Stubbins

Tries to cheer the Doctor, eagerly participates in the Blind Travel game, and is astonished to learn the Doctor discovered the North Pole.

### Dab-Dab

Watches over the Doctor during tea to ensure he eats properly.

### Chee-Chee

Helps clear away the tea dishes.

### Jip

Brings the Doctor his slippers and pipe after tea.

### Miranda

Mentioned as the bird who brought the news of Long Arrow's disappearance.

### Long Arrow

His disappearance is the cause of the Doctor's sadness; the Doctor had hoped to visit him.

## Key lines

> I don't know where to go now. I feel sort of lost since Miranda brought me this news.

The Doctor admits he feels directionless after hearing Miranda's news about Long Arrow.

_Expresses the Doctor's emotional state and the impact of the news._

> Whenever I wanted to go on a voyage, and I couldn't make up my mind where to go, I would take the atlas and open it with my eyes shut.

The Doctor explains his method of deciding a destination by randomly pointing to a map.

_Introduces the 'Blind Travel' game as a way to choose their next adventure._

> Yes, I discovered the North Pole in April, 1809. But shortly after I got there the polar bears came to me in a body and told me there was a great deal of coal there, buried beneath the snow.

The Doctor reveals he discovered the North Pole but kept it secret to protect the polar bears' habitat.

_Highlights the Doctor's secret achievement and his compassion for animals._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-ii-xi-blind-travel
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters