Craig Daily Press

Craig — Arriving in Craig on Monday afternoon, Baden Whitehead received a response that he has gotten accustomed to in the past week, one of surprise upon seeing his equine transport.

Whitehead embarked June 3 from Pinedale, Wyo., on a personal quest. He intends to ride horseback from Wyoming to Florida as a form of protest to rising gas and oil prices.

Whitehead believes his demonstration will send a message to people about the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Coun­tries.

“I want to prove that it is still possible to get along without a car these days,” he said. “Say everybody quit driving for just 12 hours. OPEC would be crippled, because so many people would realize that they don’t need them.”

Whitehead, 48, refuses to own an automobile. He maintains that his 5-year-old mare, Osage, a Painted Tennessee Walker, is the only transportation he needs.

“She’s a really great horse,” he said. “Walkers have the best gait ever, and they’re so gentle. You could hold a glass of water while riding one, and you wouldn’t spill a drop.”

Whitehead has been a horse-rider his whole life.

“They’re beautiful animals and all they ask for is love,” he said.

The other love of Whitehead’s life is his second motivation for the trek. He plans to meet his long-distance love interest, Diane Suzor, in Brooksville, Fla., by journey’s end.

“She’s in Connecticut right now, but we’re hoping to connect in Florida,” he said. “We’re keeping touch by phone and e-mail when we can, and she thinks it’s really cool what I’m doing. She just wishes she could be riding with me.”

Whitehead also hopes to visit his daughter, Whitney, 21, while in Florida. He is a Florida native himself, having grown up in Palm Beach County.

A chef by trade, Whitehead has been out of work recently, and found the timing perfect to see the American landscape, make a bold gesture toward OPEC and set out on a ride of love. He has passed through Wyoming towns Farson, Rock Springs and Baggs before making his way to Colorado.

“There are so many towns like Craig with fantastic histories,” he said. “The people have been great, too. I’ve run into a lot of horse lovers who have helped me out along the way in all the towns I’ve been in. Horse people take care of each other.”

Whitehead has camped out for roughly half the trip. He has hunted occasionally while on the road, but only when there are no other options for food.

“I’ve seen bears, moose, elk, mountain lions, antelope, but, so far, I haven’t had to kill anything bigger than a rabbit,” he said. “I don’t like to hunt unless I absolutely have to.”

Difficulties on the road have included changes in weather and ensuring that Osage has sufficient horseshoes.

“I have to make sure she has good shoes or else she could get hurt,” he said. “I have to carry her papers with me, going from state to state, so I can prove that she’s healthy and she’s had all her shots.”

Whitehead intends to head south from Craig, and follow rivers to his next destination once he gets out of the mountains. Averaging 40 to 45 miles a day, he hopes to make it to Florida by August.

“I may need to work some odd jobs to make some money, but, hopefully, I’ll get there before Christmas,” he said.

Andy Bockelman can be reached at 875-1796.