Buyer Beware of H2o and ATT!!

We have been to Michigan often as we like the area and have family there. Unfortunately, Michigan does not like us as we have NO phone service once we get into Michigan. We currently use Mint [T-Mobile] and have no access to phone service, data or even messages while in the state of Michigan. So this time we decided to buy a ATT sim chip since they seem to have service there, but went instead with H2o as they use ATT but offer a better rate. 

My phone is UNlocked. I've only purchased UNlocked phones since decades ago as I may use different sim chips while traveling, and especially while in Europe. NOWHERE on the H2o or ATT websites or in advertising, did we see anything pertaining to once a sim chip of H2o or ATT was inserted into ANY phone, unlocked or not, it would be locked!

Dirty cheaters!

So we've been back from Michigan over a week now. Yes, we did enjoy having a bit of service and even data....  at least I did. My wife maintained her phone with Mint Mobile and sure enough, and as expected, she had NO phone service or data while we drove the shorter quicker route through Canada, and later in Michigan. 

Though there were problems, I did have phone service and data almost all the time we were in the Great Lake state. It was a great test which would be good for the future should we return to Michigan again.

Unfortunately I later lost my Mint Mobile sim chip and had to order a replacement. This happened while we were inside the car and before we drove through Canada for our return home trip. The replacement sim chip arrived finally after a week and though it was activated without problem, everything functioned as before with the exception of the data; there was none. So we tried this and that and a bit more for days, but nothing worked. 

After a few hours online today with Mint Mobile technicians, we were told that we had been locked out of the phone by the company of the other sim chip used in Michigan. A fast search online shows that H2o and ATT typically locks the phones of their users so they can only use these companies only! IF we had seen this before we purchased the sim chip, we of course would NOT  have used it at all, let alone purchased it at all!

Buyer beware! Do not support H2o or ATT in their deceit!

Update: It's been exactly a week since we had the initial problems with my phone and discovered my phone had been locked after using a H2o sim chip in my Galaxy a50 phone while on a trip to Michigan where we rarely have service nor data coverage. We have emailed h20 several times and the idiots working there have not even attempted to respond to our request to unlock my phone! Buyer beware!! 

 

 

Scenes from Another Walk-About

After days of cloudy (or not) skies, we took off again in the van to go to a popular park to walk and stretch our legs. We encountered ROAD CLOSED signs on the roadway giving motorists access to the very popular Millennium Park in Kent County, Michigan. Days ago, we stopped to photograph the rising waters of the Grand River which borders this road. The river itself was at very high tide, and had flooded parts of a small unpaved park parking area and boat ramp. Two days later and the road to the boat ramp is closed and the flooding had extended to the other side of the road. It wasn't very deep but one can never tell. There are countless tales of motorists driving without caution into flooded roadways, only to be calling for assistance later as their vehicle has stopped in the flood waters. A vehicle should never be driven into floodwaters of ANY height simply because you can never tell how deep that water is.....

A beautifully reflective flood pond!

While photographing the scene, we watched as many vehicles simply drove past the caution signs and into the calm flood waters! One truck even went in fast and threw up huge and high waves of water. 

Nobody got stuck in the water but it could have been the case! A few bicyclists drove through the water, including one biker wearing an ESPAÑA jersey!! Really!! 

After a few more snaps, we walked finally on a paved trail to get to the other side of the flooded area. 

A mile and an hour later, we were on the other side, watching from where we were snapping earlier. Again, a few vehicles passed us to head to the flood waters which had receded a little. 

It was fun however, watching two guys at the other end where an hour ago WE were standing. They were filming themselves playing in the water and doing hand stands!

Memories of Clouds and Sunset Heaven!

So we have returned earlier this afternoon from our latest trip, and it has been quite a trip! A lot of surprises, sadness, shock and sunsets....  say that quickly ten times! We are of course happy to be back, since there is no place like Home, but on the other hand, we are saddened by some revelations which has brought sadness to our hearts, minds and souls.

We will survive, but still, it's quite disappointing to know of these revelations, of which I will speak of no longer.....

On the other hand, we've met some people on the trip who brought a smile to our faces and a jump to our walk, while waiting for the departures of Tall Ships (olden-days sailing vessels) at Erie, PA. With no details of the vessels departing, nor even time of departure, we arrived very early in the morning to witness the lovely grand old ships, and were disappointed yet again to see one large sailing vessel had already departed!

We sat around watching several Eagles, a few Ospreys which we thought to be the same each time, and a variety of other birds! Turns out that only after six hours did we finally see a sailing vessel, then another, and finally followed by a few more. We were sad to see not even the host ship, the Brig Niagara of Erie didn't even bother to come out with the departing ships, but on the other hand, it costs time and money each time these ships leave and enter a port. We forgave them quickly!

I'll post a few pixs later but will leave these moments for you to enjoy now! It's been a looong three days on the road without a shower, plus the bed is calling!

THESE are signs I'd like to see MORE hanging everywhere!!

Odd sight of traveling horses on the WNY highways!

The lighthouse and sunset at Port Clinton, Ohio

Cloudy set at a Presque Isle State Park beach

Clouds as seen from the passenger side at 60mph

Clouds Clouds and clouds!

Valley of the Clouds!!

Through the windshield and not a drop - yet!

Can you tell it's sunset burning the clouds orange?

Great Lakes activities

It's been cold and windy, as can be expected in these Great Lake areas, and where we are presently. Back in western New York (WNY), it gets cold and windy also, but it's nothing like a visit to a Lake Michigan park beach, and to be slapped in the face with chilling cold that will really wake up anyone!!

We had just arrived and walked to the beach where there were some great waves!! Sheila mentioned that the waves at that beach reminded her of seeing the Atlantic Ocean waves, huge on a very windy day! It was indeed windy but since I have seen huge waves in my life near waters of the world, it seemed those waves were small but still, it always feels good to be near water.

It was just a few minutes later that Sheila shouted out "Eagles" and pointed north. I looked up to see two large birds, and snapped a few. We didn't have our monsters on the cameras, but one could easily see the white head and tail. We are having an eagle of a month, with over 10 eagles seen now within the past few weeks!

Here is an image link to my images at fineartamerica, which feature quite a few western NY scenes

We stayed and froze a little bit longer till the sunset. We snapped pixs to our heart's content with the chilled wind on our faces, and the waves crashing onto the shore. The intense color quickly faded but it was one of the nicest sunsets we've been able to enjoy in over a week! Just days ago we experienced the first snowfall of the area, and brushed off almost two inches of snow from the car. We drove looking for Fall colors and snowfall, but the high winds of last week had already stripped most of the leaves, and instead just found white expanses of snow....  except for a leaf-print in the snow. I've been to many areas where snow is the norm, and I have never seen these ice cube sights ever...  have you?


On the other hand, I am porting my cell number over to a company offering very lost cost data for those on the move. I still have my old number which I've had since 2009 at least, with its various groups of numbers originating from the area code of Oregon, the area code of Sevilla, and lastly, using a very easy-to-remember combination of keypad presses. I've never been one remembering all the previous numbers I've been assigned, but this I've had for too many years but never forgotten since it's so easy to remember! If you know it, you've still got a means to call me! If you don't, no sweat as I make very few calls but also receive even fewer calls!

The only exception to this newest company is that I now have - for the first time ever - data on my Samsung S5! We use digimobil while in Spain, and they have been offer rollover-data for their data users! Why can't we have that in the USA? Unfortunately DigiMobil is not in the USA!

UPDATE: As you probably know, the image links in this post doesn't take you anywhere since those linked images are gone; I change out the various images I have on fineart every week. I apologize but you can always see other imagery I have displayed at redbubble