Mr. Rocky,

  You aren't in the artic, down there in Bend.  Sheesh, you'd think you've
moved to Dawson Creek or something the way you are anticipating "winter" for
your bus there.  Yah, it snows sometimes.  Yah, the road gets slick,
sometimes.  No, it ain't exactly like Escondido or Temecula, (yet) but it is
more like Ramona...fairly moderate climate.

 Do you wear suspenders and a belt, perchance? (a jest, not dissing you)
Put on the snow tires, put a couple of bags of sand in the rear, do the
water system draining others outlined and keep your van where you can drive
it on nice days, which there will be plenty of during 'winter' in/around
Bend.  Your only concern might be road salt, which ODOT seems to over-use,
and getting smooshed by a soccer mom 'over-driving' her Lexus SUV.

  Make time to get over to the Oregon Coast during a winter storm.
Spectacular weather events, storms on the Pacific and the campgrounds are
nearly deserted during winter.  Get over to Cedarville to the Hot Springs
there, too..

  Don Hanson