Adventurous Anne and her caribou stop in Sault for a ‘spa day’

Anne Thomas says she doesn’t consider herself a bicyclist, but she certainly could make that claim with justifiable pride.

The Ottawa native, 21, who now resides in Whistler, BC, is currently travelling across Canada on her bicycle, which she affectionately refers to as ‘Caribou.’

Apart from discovering her homeland through her bicycle tour, Thomas aims to drum up $20,000 for Indigenous youth to attend camps through partnering with WE, a non-profit movement dedicated to improving quality of life for people around the world.

Thomas says she is not Aboriginal but is “learning a lot” about Indigenous people and culture, and enjoying Canada 150 celebrations along the way.

Thomas estimates she has cycled between 80 and 150 kilometres per day on her trip, which began May 21 when she dipped her bicycle’s rear tire into the Pacific Ocean at Victoria, BC, carrying about 50 pounds of gear as she travels.

Thomas has eaten at cafes and pitched her tent overnight during her trip, but says she is also grateful for people who have provided her with food, accommodation and support along the way.

Thomas said she gets physically and mentally tired because of her gruelling journey, joking her legs are ‘jello,’ especially after cycling through northern Ontario.

Thomas said Wednesday she and her bicycle are enjoying a ‘spa day’ in the camping area behind local bicycle shop Velorution, as she rests and her bicycle receives some maintenance.

“I won’t be moving much today,” Thomas said, though one can tell there is a radiant joy in her face, clearly enjoying her journey despite some physical and mental tiredness. 

Thomas said she has had close calls with a grizzly bear, torrential rain, hail, lightning, thunder, a tornado, trucks and, at one time, a smash up with a parked car.

“I was accepted into university when I was 18 but I decided it wasn’t for me.  I graduated high school and three days later I bought a one-way ticket to New Zealand,” Thomas chuckled.

Thomas said she worked three jobs and saved a lot of money in preparation for her travels, and still works on the ski hills at Whistler to finance her voyages.

She travelled and volunteered in New Zealand and Fiji as a school teacher, logging about 2,000 volunteer hours in her time away from Canada.

Thomas said she found, through her travels overseas, people don’t usually tend to take the time to explore their own countries, so she decided to travel across Canada upon her return to Ottawa.

“At first I thought ‘I’m going to drive across, but then I thought 'Oh, I’m so much cooler than that,' so I decided to get a bicycle and do it that way,’” she laughed.

“This is the best trip I’ve ever had, because of the pace and the people I’ve met along the way that inspire me,” said Thomas, who is looking forward to visiting family in Ottawa and plans to end her voyage in Halifax.

Thomas said her future plans include a journey to Nepal and to one day become a professional teacher.

“When will that day be? I’ve no desire to be in a classroom right now.  I’m pursuing ‘a global degree’ and living my ‘good old days’ now.”

To follow Thomas on her adventure and/or donate to her cause for WE, you can check out her website

You can contact her through [email protected] or through her Facebook page, entitled cyclecrosscountry2017