superhero ride part 2: lapeer

we entered lapeer without any idea of where we would stay or what kind of service we might be asked to give. there was a carnival setting up for the yearly event called "Lapeer Days".  we made base at the park next to this carnival and many people struck out in teams to see what opportunities we might find.

i was feeling a little timid, but decided to overcome it by setting off with a buddy, Stardust, to engage the people of lapeer. after i took those first few steps i found it easier to continue. and after talking to the first few people, having some simple heart connections, my spirits were lifted way up! it is so fun to engage people this way.

"hello, we're with a group of bicycling superheroes who have just arrived in lapeer and we are looking for people in need of our help."
...is basically how we would get the ball rolling. we also used the tactics of saying positive things about the business we were in or the person we were talking to and asking about their story. we also were asking if anyone knew of a place we could camp. Stardust and i got a couple leads, but nothing very solid. we did have one fairly remarkable interaction with a man from the episcopal church who gave us a ride in his van back to our base in the park. he was very encouraging and believed in the value of our mission.

by dinner time we still did not know where we would be staying, so we decided to have dinner in the park. we did a little 'fashion parade' when an appropriate song came over the speakers on one of the carnival rides. i forget the song, but i think it was something from the 80s. the hoop makes a great prop for this kind of parading, and i tried out my skills marching and dancing with it. this was fun to push my edge of social discomfort.
at dinner i shared the last of the bullwhip kelp seaweed my mother had sent me. what a comfort and an important boost of minerals for our superhero bodies.

one of our scout teams had found the American Legion of Lapeer and we were given a fine place to camp among the pine trees.

earthly delight and her team of cooks brought us a pleasant variation in our diets, nori rolls! lady JOYstice's mom offered what was left of her spicy takeout, which included some much-appreciated meat.









our second day in lapeer we said farewell to Lady JOYstice. these pictures were taken during the goodbye circle, which we always perform for fellow superheroes leaving the ride, and sometimes do for local superheroes we have worked with. it ends in a supernova of unending love. those forming the circle say things they appreciate about the person in the middle and send loving vibrations. it is a highly energetic experience and can be both tearful and punctuated with bursts of laughter.