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TEAM BAT STAYS AT CAMP COYOTE by Chris Wilbeck 7/25/08
When we heard that the Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bike Ride
Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) was rolling through Jefferson - bringing more than 10,000 riders and their support staff -
we were as excited as most in Greene County. When Kevin's sister, Kira Ahart, mentioned that her RAGBRAI bike
team, TEAM BAT, was looking for a place to stay when in Jefferson, we were thrilled to host and offer our campground.
So, on the night of July 21 and the morning of July 22, we hosted 27 members and friends of TEAM BAT.
They pitched their tents at Camp Coyote, used the temporary gravity-feed showers Kevin recently installed, and ate breakfast
on the front porch of our house.
We enjoyed meeting them all. They were
great guests. And, as I'm told is characteristic of most RAGBRAI guests, they left the campground exactly as
they found it ... in perfect order.
See photos of their stay below.
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 Waiting for the BAT bus
Kris Roecker (Kevin's
sister pictured on the left), daughter Bailey (center) and friend Shelly Kasperbauer from Denison enjoy a cool lemonade on
our front porch, as they wait for the team to arrive.
 The bus arrives
Around 7pm that night, the big white BAT bus makes its approach to our drive.
 BAT Kids greet the team
BAT Kids (our Jacob and cousin Bailey) greet the team. Pictured with them
are team members Kira Ahart (Kevin's sister on the left) and Denise Ditto.
 Logistics
Kevin and team members discuss the logistics of unloading their gear and transporting it to
Camp Coyote with our tractor and wagon.
Setting up camp
Team members pitch
their tents, while Kevin takes this aerial shot from a hydraulic lift borrowed from our neighbor.
 Come-and-go breakfast
Our guests come-and-go for breakfast on Tuesday morning.
 Our Greeter and Hostess
Jan Wilbeck, Kevin's mom - standing next to our menu board and beverage station
- greets the team as they head for the breakfast buffet set up in the dining room.
She came to watch Jacob
and ended up helping with just about everything! Thanks Grandma Jan!
 Bikers need fuel
To ensure they had the energy they needed to bike to Ames that day, we served egg casserole,
crunchy breakfast potatoes, french toast strips, sausage links, rhubarb coffee cake and Gert's dessert (a cream cheese,
whip cream and butterscotch dessert named after Kevin's Grandma).
 Breakfast on the porch
Team members eat and chat
on the front porch.
 
No tables required ...
Even
though we had more tables set up on the front lawn, our guests ate and relaxed on our shady porch stoop and
ledges.
 
Loading the bus
Camping gear was taken off the wagon and loaded onto the bus.
 Official Team Bat T-Shirts
On behalf of the team, Jesse Gerlits presents Kevin with Team Bat T-shirts
(for us) and Team stickers (for Jake).
We will wear them proudly!
  
Going, going, gone!
Before we knew it, they were packed up and on their way to their
next stop. Another day on the bike and another town to explore.
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Welcome
to Farmhouse Life! Your Hosts, Chris & Kevin Wilbeck
Farmhouse
Life • 2244 U Avenue Rippey IA 50235 • Greene County USA
515-436-7041
copyright © 2008 FARMHOUSELIFE LLC. All
rights reserved. Website designed and maintained by Wilbeck Consulting.
The entire contents
of this site, including artwork, is owned by FARMHOUSELIFE LLC. No copying, reproduction, or downloading of artwork
or content is permitted without written permission of owner.
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