Bend and Bugs (Sunnyside, Metolius: for sale, real estate, rental)

[Snownut]

We are pondering a move to Bend in the future. Jobs seem like biggest concern?

Climate from all I have read is a good match for us, I like the cool nights year round, long winters and dryness even when cloudy. That with wet and snow near by sound awsome!

We have scheduled a vacation August 11-18th and have rented a home along the river near Old Mill and Downtown.

I have a couple questions locals should know?

What are bugs like in the region? Are they seasonal and what types?

They are terrible here in VA home and even worse at our second home (for sale) in the mountains of WV. Mosquitoes, flys, gnats, ladybugs, sinkbugs, aggressive ground hornets, ticks, ants, spyders to name a few!

We want to rent bikes, two adults and a 7 year old for general riding, no extreme riding.

Any recommendations for bike rental shops? There are many on the web but not sure which one, many are sales and bike tour shops Do they need advance reservations?

Any thoughts or experiences are greatly appreciated, particularly on the bugs

Thank you in advance.

[dogflower]

Snownut--

what type of bikes do you want--road or mountain? Pine Mountain, Sunnyside, Hutch's and Bend Cyclery are just a few of the great, local bike shops. (The river trail is a beautiful, moderate mountain biking or hiking trail. Phil's Trail has many types of trails, including fun hills right by the parking lot that your little can try. Sunriver has lots of flat, paved bike trails, too.) You probably don't need reservations unless there is "an event" going on so be sure to check the calendar for biking events. I personally would reserve in advance just to be sure

We don't have many bugs. The Cascade lakes will certainly have mosquitoes and occasionally I see wasps around. We have various spiders, a few flies, and a few times I've found ticks after being at the Metolius River. Central Oregon has the fewest bugs of any place I have lived. Not a worry--this will be MUCH less than you describe.

Enjoy Central Oregon!

[Snownut]

Thank you for the information.

I have a bike shop that has emailed to help us.

The bug information is good news and one more positive check mark for Bend.

Looking for to personally discovering Bend to see if it continues a nice fit for us.

Of course jobs will ultimately be the deciding factor.

[kapetrich]

I'm from MD and went to college in VA. Bugs out there are a totally different beast than in Bend. Almost not comparable especially in town they're practically none existent. The only place you have to worry about them are a few specific weeks near rivers, streams and lakes which is how it is anywhere, but even in these areas they are pretty tame compared to the mid Atlantic.


One of the strangest things about the misquitos we do have out here are that when they bite, they swell and itch for an hour or two and then go away- while in the mid Atlantic when you get attacked the welt and itching turns into a few day affair. I guess they're a different species.....

[Snownut]

That is wonderful information and so valuable since you lived in the MD and VA. Thank you. Not sure about the different mosquitos? eastern or western types.

Originally Posted by kapetrich

I'm from MD and went to college in VA. Bugs out there are a totally different beast than in Bend. Almost not comparable especially in town they're practically none existent. The only place you have to worry about them are a few specific weeks near rivers, streams and lakes which is how it is anywhere, but even in these areas they are pretty tame compared to the mid Atlantic.


One of the strangest things about the misquitos we do have out here are that when they bite, they swell and itch for an hour or two and then go away- while in the mid Atlantic when you get attacked the welt and itching turns into a few day affair. I guess they're a different species.....

[Snownut]

Another thing I have noticed in the Real Estate searching there are no basements in Bend area homes and much of the west? Why is that? Too much rock? Just curious.

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by Snownut

Another thing I have noticed in the Real Estate searching there are no basements in Bend area homes and much of the west? Why is that? Too much rock? Just curious.

Yes, too much rock. You're talking a thick layer of basalt in most places in Central Oregon.

West of the Cascades in the Willamette Valley, large portion of land were originally swamp or wetlands. Basements would regularly flood. Not to say there aren't any, but they're rarer then houses without one.

[delta07]

Originally Posted by kapetrich

I'm from MD and went to college in VA. Bugs out there are a totally different beast than in Bend. Almost not comparable especially in town they're practically none existent. The only place you have to worry about them are a few specific weeks near rivers, streams and lakes which is how it is anywhere, but even in these areas they are pretty tame compared to the mid Atlantic.


One of the strangest things about the misquitos we do have out here are that when they bite, they swell and itch for an hour or two and then go away- while in the mid Atlantic when you get attacked the welt and itching turns into a few day affair. I guess they're a different species.....

I don't know, I was up at Sparks Lake earlier this week and I was eaten alive by mosquitoes. The bites itched for days and days, just like every other mosquito bite I've had.

But, yes, in terms of bugs, we have very few that you really have to be concerned about here. There are hobo spiders and scorpions, but they aren't everywhere. You don't need to exterminate or anything like that here.

[kapetrich]

Originally Posted by delta07

I don't know, I was up at Sparks Lake earlier this week and I was eaten alive by mosquitoes. The bites itched for days and days, just like every other mosquito bite I've had.

But, yes, in terms of bugs, we have very few that you really have to be concerned about here. There are hobo spiders and scorpions, but they aren't everywhere. You don't need to exterminate or anything like that here.

Yeah, I've only honestly been bitten on the Deschutes River Trail outside of town. The species could be different up near Sparks lake. Who knows.....

I hear we have scorpions, but haven't seen one yet. I see Hobo spiders pretty often though.

[Snownut]

Originally Posted by hamellr

Yes, too much rock. You're talking a thick layer of basalt in most places in Central Oregon.

West of the Cascades in the Willamette Valley, large portion of land were originally swamp or wetlands. Basements would regularly flood. Not to say there aren't any, but they're rarer then houses without one.

Thank you, suspected that. Is there a high water table in the Bend area too?

So I guess my wife's desire for a small in ground pool in Bend would be very expensive. Planned on solar or gas heated and now above ground looks like best option. See lots of hot tubs which seem a nice fit for the cool evenings.