THE MOUNTAINS! I had missed the Rockies desperately, and was overjoyed to finally see the white-capped peaks appear in the distance when I drove through Alberta on one of those sparkling sunlit days that highlight the autumn foliage and turn the trees to gold. I love the area between Calgary and the mountains - it's filled with farmland and it must be one of the prettiest locations in the world to own a ranch. There are sleek, shiny horses and golden hay bales everywhere. I spent all afternoon roaming around and getting lost in the network of country roads that crisscross the foothills.
This is my favourite part of Canada, my happy place, and I was here at the perfect time of year: when autumn and winter meet, shake hands, and agree to coexist for a short while.