Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Trip to Maine? Maybe not

I had previously entertained the thought of riding from Virginia to Maine next week. Does anyone on here live in Maine? My dad is trying to talk me out of it on account of the mosquitoes and black flies. He says they are terrible this time of year. Are they really that bad, and is it worth changing my destination? If I don’t go to Acadia, then I guess I will go from here to Snowshoe West Virginia, to Ithaca NY, to Lititz PA, to Princeton NJ, back home. Probably spend a couple of days exploring each place. I would really like to go to Maine, but if the bugs are as bad as people say, it might be miserable to camp. Thanks for advice!

Yeah the bugs can be bad... Not sure up there tho, maybe not as bad on the coast? Depends where you camp I bet. I do know that bugs tend to be worse around still water like lakes, swamps, etc.

I know you asked for people who live there, but I have visited Maine a lot, and I don't remember the bugs being that bad along the coast.

Dude they're bugs they won't kill you.
Alaska is full of the biggest misquotes I have ever seen in my life but that doesn't stop my enjoyment of the place.
Black flies will are much worse in the interior woods and by now are near the end of their season.
If you head to the coast they aren't bad. But giving up a trip due to bugs would be worse than not riding in if there was a 5% chance of rain.

Black flies are all but gone!! (they are called May flies also...for the obvious reason of their time of arrival) Mosquito's well they're a different story...just be sure to have a good repelant (with deet) and they are less prevelant at the coast...

Depends on where you are at, and what time of the day. I've been up there a bunch around Deer Isle and only had problems in the early morning and around sunset (even right on the shore) Of course, my in-laws called yesterday and said it was 40-50 degrees there, SOOO, probably not many problems yesterday with anything!

John-
Ride to Maine.
On the bike, the bugs can't keep up anyway.

The people are way cool, and the coast is stunning.

Everyone has a different bug tolerance level but I wouldn't let it stop me from heading to the coast this time of year.

We've been to Acadia in early August and bugs were not an issue.

The bugs shouldn't be so much of a problem as the massive amount of ground you have to cover to get anywhere in Maine. It can get pretty monotonous on the slab.

When you're in Princeton, be sure to stop at the Triumph Brewery! I could also hook you up with some nice rides not far from there.
Good luck & ride safe!

A black fly is not a mayfly. Besides mayflies hatch the entire season right into October. Black flies hatch in streams and rivers from April through June/July depending on location / temperature and species (there are dozens of black fly species). From warmer to cooler, so from the south to north and then into elevations. By now they are done hatching and the adults are only around for a few weeks so the numbers will thin. I use to go up late July - August and would encounter them but not in the swarm numbers like earlier in the season. They don't bite through cloths so that is the best defense. They do however love to bite heads, hands and feet. Ouch the little blood suckers hurt! As Benny said not many on the coast as they hatch in running sweet water only.
The things one learns fishing!!!!

I disagree. Black flys aren't a problem cause they bite as much as they swarm. Yes they might bite but not like a moose fly or a deer fly. I'm guessing that VA is not a bug free environment.
Honestly I just ignore bugs, my wife uses repellent. But unless I'm trying to stay perfectly still in a blind I can usually just ignore them.