Aug 12 - numbers

I heard from Harris Samuels who has cancelled his old cell number and transferred their land line number to his cell phone.  He could have maintained both numbers by setting up a free Google Voice line but it's done.

Our so-called landline is a Vonage VOIP.  We move the device with us when we change houses.  It rings all the time here at the cottage and I never answer it.  All the calls are junk calls.  Perhaps I should save myself the money and cancel the service.  In Florida it's sometimes useful to use a land phone but that's just habit. 

I setup a Google Voice number, which is free, a long time ago but have never used it.  I could transfer that Vonage number, which is our old 610 Philly number, to the GV line but it would still simply get the junk calls and I don't really want them forwarded to my cell phone.

We also have a 705 number here at the cottage.  It's a true land line, although the line itself runs underwater ... so is it a land line ?  Eventually it does come up for air so I guess it's a land line.  We can use our cells with wifi calling with our internet service but it's painful having a call because of the latency with the two way calling.  If they ever put up a cell tower close enough to us to be useful, I'd drop the land-line in a heartbeat.  I've looked at cell boosters but haven't had the time to really investigate or do a test.

Of course the most expensive part of all this is the Verizon cell service.  In order that we cover US and Canada and have a little data allowance in Canada, it really adds up.  The Vonage number is < $20.  The Bell Canada land line is around $40 (forget the exact charge).  The Verizon charge is > $200.    The GV number is free. 

And then there are all the other duplicated utilities ... and insurance ... it sure does cost a lot to maintain two houses in different countries !  It's cheaper by far to live in Florida utility-wise, automobile-wise, food-wise ... oh well.

So, I did get my bike together yesterday.  That is so much easier with a bike stand.  It's none the worse for wear and I'd given it a pretty good wipe-down before packing in the UK.  I checked the chain and sure enough, it wasn't worth bringing back with me.  Into the garbage that went.  I've got a nice shiny chain for the next ride. 

During LEL, with the rain, shifting went all to hell.  I took advantage of a bike stand, oil and rags at one Control and got it working again.  I knew darn well with all the debris in the chain that it would be wearing, stretching etc.  Usually the chain stays pretty clean riding up north and for the most part UK roads are cleaner than Florida, but with so much rain during LEL, even with fenders to help keep the drivetrain semi-protected ...

That reminds me, I really should do my LEL blog before I head out to the GA 1200k !

Speaking of rain, our two GA riders were into Napanee last night well after midnight.  They haven't had an early night yet.  They plan to leave for Oshawa at 6:30 this a.m. for the last 200k.  That should get them in 12 hours from now or earlier, depending on how the day goes.  At least it's supposed to be dry today.   I wish that I was going to be in Oshawa to congratulate them but c'est la vie.  Bob K has a number of 1200k's under his belt but it's the first time for Charles, the newbie. 

Sandy took the girls to the French River Trading Post and to Rockcliffe Pottery, so they were in and out all day. We got some heavy rain interspersed with sun but mostly wet.  By the end of the day it had cleared; they'll have a good day today.

Lauren-2 is supposed to leave today; her Mom picking her up.  I believe that Lauren-1 is staying with us and will go to Barrie with me on Wednesday when I head to Oshawa for the start of my 1200k pre-ride.

Speaking of riding; I should really get out for a few miles; perhaps I can do that on Monday, just to stretch the legs.  I haven't been on the bike since Loughton ... I suppose that I could also use the trainer downstairs; yes, that would be a good idea.

I spent the first 3 hours of yesterday doing the end of July financial report for Randonneurs USA.  Normally I'd do that the first couple of days f the month but I had been occupied !

Onward !