Did you lock the front door, put out enough cat food, and reset the odometer?

Today the marmots begin their long-awaited journey to visit Marmot 01’s favorite place on earth, Mammoth Lakes. Mammoth Lakes is a small town nestled against the eastern side of the Sierra mountains. For years, Marmot 01 has regaled Marmot 02 with her tales of High Sierra bliss. Marmot 02 has yearned to join Marmot 01 amidst the high mountain peaks and romantic scenery of the Sierras. Plus, the Sierras are home to genuine, real, and veritably wild marmots. The marmots are celebrating their tenth anniversary (“The Marmiversary”) and can think of no better way to commemorate it than by visiting their people in their native habitat.

The marmots have packed their Muttmobile (this has nothing to do with dogs, don’t worry) with the things that make them comfy, but are concerned that food will not stay cool for 9 or 10 hours in the cooler so they only have dry snax. This makes the marmots anxious. They can’t wait to stop at the Whole Foods in Sacramento so they can feel secure and well-fed once more. But they need to get there by 8pm to make sure they have time to shop before the market closes at 9pm. Will they make it? (Hint: Marmot 01 is driving this stretch of the trip).

Marmot 01 likes driving California-style

Just before leaving Oregon, they realize they might not have time to buy See’s Candies in Sacramento since they will be arriving late and then leaving early. So they make an emergency stop in Medford for See’s. They debate over whether to buy a half pound or a pound, then agree a pound would be excessive so they just get a half pound… and another half pound of bridge mix. But that doesn’t count. Anyway, it is a great decision, as it powers the rest of their drive.

The California Poppy welcomes you to California…

Shortly after entering the Sunshine State they see Mt Shasta, stop at the CA fruit checkpoint, and pass through the town of Weed, which thinks it is really cute. Soon after Weed, the terrain shifts to palm trees and oaks. This is followed by a stop at a totally sub-par, overpriced gas station. Finally, the marmots arrive in Sacramento.

Mt Shasta in the clouds

The owner of their rental cottage is a photographer and her amazing nature photos blanket the walls. One particularly enchanting image captures what appears to be a sheath of glacier falling into the ocean with a splash that dwarfs even that of an American Olympic diver. Marmot 02 hates the impracticality and lack of privacy of the separation of the bathroom sink from the main bathroom but she thinks the matte finish and neutral colors on the floor-to-ceiling field-size tile are wonderfully tasteful.

Entering Sacramento… the race to Whole Foods is nearly complete

The marmots drop off their stuff and head out to the Whole Foods immediately. (You knew they would make it in time—even with the extra stop at See’s—because Marmot 01 reverts to a true Californian when back in California.) They come home with copious goodies, including local tomatoes and local pesto.

They have dinner out on the deck in the warm Sacramento evening at around 9:30 while watching the US Women’s Open tennis final. Two next-gen American athletes are battling it out. Sloane Stephens takes the trophy. Both winner and runner-up are some of the most badass, gracious, and classy players the marmots have ever seen. Relieved to see these classy, talented women take the reins of American tennis from the loathsome Serena Williams, the marmots go to bed more content than they typically do following a tennis match.