Miles to go

by Virginia Acutt (Australia)

I didn't expect to find Canada

After spending 6 cold months working and living on a ski hill in British Columbia, Canada my boyfriend Michael and I decided that for the next six months of our working holiday we would head North East to spend our summer in the infamous Rocky Mountains in Banff, Alberta. During our summer there we decided we’d make the most of every day off and see as much of Banff National Park’s surrounds as possible. Michael and I had a 2001 GMC Safari that we’d converted into a sleeper camping van named Barbie that drove us absolutely everywhere and provided warmth and a place to sleep over the course of 13 months travelling around Canada and America. So this is how I found myself at this beautiful scene with the three furry pooches perched atop one of the most scenic look outs on The Icefields Parkway. We’d driven Barbie down The Icefields Parkway to see Peyto Lake for our second or third time - a lake so beautiful it simply can’t be all taken in during just one visit. I was pleasantly surprised during this trip to find three beautiful dogs also taking in the view! I wondered if it had anything to do with the fact that the lake is shaped eerily similar to a wolf? Perhaps they wanted to see what it was all about as well! As the crowd patiently waited for their turn for an unobstructed photo in front of the view, these three furry visitors stole the show! I found it hard to look past them during their mini photoshoot. This scene immediately prompted me to get my camera out and take a photo because having been away from home (and my own two little furry puppies Bonnie & Lulu) for 7 months at that time I always appreciated the opportunity to photograph other people’s pets and even squeeze in a quick cuddle and pat if I can! I loved the image of the three dogs in front of the lake that also resembled a wolf, it gave me the opportunity to photograph an amazing scene of real life models against a back drop of mother nature’s very own piece of art work in this vast turquoise wolf shaped lake shaped by Canada’s famous array of sky scraping pine trees. When I reflect on this photo it immediately takes me back to that moment. I can remember the slight chill in the air being up so high but also the warmth of the sun beating down on me. It was really a sensory overload for me. Filling my lungs with the crisp Canadian air, seeing this real life Canadian mirage in front of me, hearing the laughter and coos from the crowd watching these adorable dogs pose for a photo and feeling Michael’s hand in mine knowing that this was only the start of our summer in Banff and there was so much more to come.