#98 Wauchula SKP in Zolfo Springs

We pulled into Wauchula escapees and because we were so late like 9 o'clock or 8 they were all at the game room doing things socially. I kind of hated bothering him but I got that look like well we've all been there. The campground host had to get up and deal with me and they put me into the overflow area for the night. It had just a small amount of power. A 20 amp drop cord hook-up and so you can't run much but you least you had electricity and water so I was happy to be there. We settled in for a nice sleep and the next day they had a site available that was a typical concrete pad with a full hookup. Escapees are very affordable at around $22 a night so we went around and got settled in.

I had decided at this point that if the problem with the throttle sensor was still occurring, maybe it was my ECM computer that has sort of lost its way. Going all the way back to Chimacum the mechanic struggled with what in the world is wrong with my computer or something for about 16 hours. He gladly gave me the bill for all this and he was very kind as he only charged me for 8 hours. It was still a lot of money but it could’ve been worse

. I also had destroyed my antenna on the way and so I decided to stay at Wauchula for a few days and use it as a location to receive a few items. I decided to get a new computer for the truck and an antenna for the TV. I found a new actuator for my awning various things that are Amazon-type shipments. I think by the time it was over with we stayed there about 12 days. When the computer arrived I installed it and it worked perfectly. I have to go back a few days now.

Wauchula is a small town and all the big city stuff like Olive Garden or Walmart is 45 minutes away in Sebring. We would go to Sebring some for 12-step meetings and such. I was in a grocery store parking lot and all of a sudden the evil thing happened with the throttle sensor and I'm stranded. Keep in mind I just spent 600 on a new computer. I have to say I meet the nicest people because I was in the parking lot of a grocery store with the hood up wishing I could think of something to do and some guy came by and a small black truck and said may I help you. I guess maybe he said you need to jump-start and I said I got a bigger problem.

Almost immediately I realized he was a mechanic but it was his Saturday and it was his day off and he had no intention of getting involved in some big job in a parking lot.

He was very kind though and he said he knew a guy that did mobile service calls. him I could come by and help and I told him about the throttle sensor and he said that was the strangest thing ever and that it really could have just been a defective unit. His friend came out and he had the fancy computer and he had a hard time clearing the code this time. He said it was entirely possible that it was bad and he has an open account at the Advance down the road. He said he would buy a new unit at $300 on his account and if it solves the problem I would simply reimburse him. If not I could return mine and it will be a wash. He was just being nice but if it didn't solve the problem then I had a bigger problem. He would return it because he has a good repour with them.

All this is just totally random kindness from strangers. I gave his friend $80 for the troubleshooting thing because that's about the going rate and I did pretty much all the mechanical work with my wrenches but both of them hung around for what would probably need to two hours. The first guy came along and gave me some rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and we all had kind of a little caveman picnic out there in the parking lot with chicken leg bones flying everywhere. I went ahead and rode with him to the AutoZone and they gave him the new part on credit. We put it in I put it in and it worked perfectly and the code was no longer an issue and the guys felt like we had gotten it solved It appeared that we did have a defective sensor. I had to take the defective part by and he gave the guy a hundred percent credit. I had to show my receipt where I purchased it which I found online on my credit card statement.

Everybody that was involved was about as nice as could be and I thanked everybody profusely.

I left Sebring probably around 4:00 p.m. I was happy to be home and it's certainly appeared as if the throttle positioning sensor was solved and I was very relieved. I knew that it didn't make any sense to go south towards the Keys until he had had a few days of it not messing up. I had already decided to put the new computer in anyway. Everything arrived at the post office or an ups store and could install everything.

I installed all that I could and I also created the screen porch on my awning that I have been wanting to do for 6 months. I finished it and was very pleased with the whole thing as it worked well.

Wauchula is a nice little place that's got lots of orange orchards going on. Some generally friendly people I guess but now it's time to go.