Tails of the Green Monkey

**Monkey@Arms** · 22nd September 09, 11:05 PM

In our last installment our intrepid Monkey had returned from a hazy mescal drinking, cricket eating Mexican winter sojourn. Summer was once again coming to a close and with it a last chance for your correspondent, the Monkey Man himself, and the Mrs. to make a quick get away to Carmel by the Sea, before the Clever-Little-Monkeys returned from camp.

But don’t let these peaceful scenes fool you, we are about to take you on a bumpy ride!

Reunited with the young-uns, we set off in the foot steps of Panache and the F-H.A.C.G. to the wilds of the Pacific Northwest. First stop, Ashland Oregon, where I trod the boards of the Shakespeare Festival to rave reviews.

Next, what desert is this?

None other than the Oregon Dunes, stretching 50 miles with drifts towering 500 feet above sea level. Entrusting our lives to our skilled Sandrail driver we traversed these sandy mountains at startling speeds and breakneck angles.

Think roller coaster thrill ride, not placid tour. (That is Clan Monkey in the first two rows.) Highly recommended if you are ever in that part of the world.

After a stop to smell the flowers at Silverton Falls

we were off to sample some of Portland’s unique delights including the infamous Voodoo Donuts.

Cont.

**Monkey@Arms** · 22nd September 09, 11:09 PM

Things were starting to get hot (literally) so we sought relief on the jet boat ride on the Willamette River

to Willamette Falls.

Oh yeah, when they warn you that you’ll get wet, they are talking about front-row-at-the-Shamu-show-at-Sea-World-kind-of-wet. That baby did 360 degree spins in the middle of downtown Portland, sending walls of water over the sides! You can’t see it, but we were dripping.

Enough for now.

Still to come weirdness in Seattle, and survival among the unbifurcated denizens of Black Rock City.

Best regards,

Jake