madras bound (Portland, Bend: home, camping, living)

[kendracalled]

I currently living near the home of the detroit pistons and am moving to madras. It doesn't look like a big sports town. I will be heading that way next monday(a Week). I will be working in warm springs. does any one know about the area surronding these towns? I like to camp and tube(as in down the river). I have been calling places in the area, setting up a place to live, getting storage units arranged and such. All of the people I have talked to on the phone are very nice and helpful. I was alittle amazed that my AAA ins. will be all the way down in Bend. I am starting to realize just how small a town I am going to.

[buzzkirk]

Yes, Madras is a very small place, it's only a one or two stoplight town as I recall. I lived in Bend from '01-'04 and would pass through Madras on my way up to Portland to visit friends. It's pretty much a farm town for the most part, they grow alfalfa around there I think. There are these big fields of it around town, so it's pretty open and not many trees as I remember. Central Oregon, including Bend, is called the high desert and it's pretty hot, sunny, dry and dusty in the summer months, kinda cold (but not like the Midwest) but for the most part sunny in the winter with occasional snow that doesn't stick around long - unlike in the Cascades where it dumps and stays around til mid summer. Smith Rocks State Park is near Madras and has great rock climbing - it's world renowned for that in fact. The Deschutes River is to the west and is a popular fly fishing river and there might be some tubing possible although I recall it being pretty rough and rocky around there but can't say for sure. You can tube in right in Bend though if you want to make the drive there. As for camping, there's plenty, especially backcountry on forest service or BLM land, you can go wherever you want, just remember it's not like camping in the Midwest, be sure to be prepared, tell people where you are going, etc. The dry climate really sucks the moisture out of everything so drink plenty of water. Won't have any problems with crowds anywhere around Madras I imagine, it's pretty sparsely populated. Nice views of the Cascades. Can't think of much more to say about the area, there's just not much around there. Good luck with the move.

[kendracalled]

Previously, I lived in AZ. Did much camping in the desert, and in the mountains. Though I went to privately owned property, it got pretty rough with the drug runners, towards the end of my stay in AZ we only went camping in large groups as these people would drive lone people out... or worse. I am looking forward to arriving there. The drive to bend is short if you have two wheels.