The following is an email from Bernie Davenport, the person who took the pictures....There is something to be said for this digital world we live in.
Yesterday, September 7, 2003 (a bit before 1 PM) we passed
Doug as he was going up the Taum Sauk mountain in Missouri.
This is Missouri's highest point and was a weekend trip for
Elizabeth, Randy, and Bernie Davenport who had driven in
from the far side of the state.
A little while later Doug was on his way down and Elizabeth
asked him a question as he rode past. He turned around and
consulted his map for the answer. I believe the first thing
he said was "hmph. 1772 feet? They consider *that* high?" I
guess it was at that point that I realized he was not a
local like we imagined!
We chatted with Doug for about ten minutes. We gave him some
cold water for his bike bottle and forced him to take a
package of peanuts to snack on. He told us what he was doing
ther so far from his home. I do not know if anyone else but
me saw this, but as he talked Doug had a smile on his face
that had to extend deep down into his soul. You could tell
how happy he was to be doing this and what a blast he was
having.
Those few minutes of talking to Doug really impressed me for
some reason. I guess I could tell right away that he was a
wonderful American and one that touches many people's lives.
I am glad that God put the four of us in each other's path.
Here are the pictures I took while we spoke. Feel free to
use them in whatever way you wish. If you need any of these
cropped, resized, brightened, or enhanced in any other way
then just let me know. I excell at this!
I will be checking on Doug's progress daily and he will be
in our prayers.
Bernie Davenport
Me, Randy and Liz Davenport (East of Centerville, MO)