FAIRFIELD - Each morning, Bill Inman used to turn on CNN to watch the news of the world. Each morning, he saw crime and aggression, and he got tired of it.

"He said, 'There's so much more to America than that. That's not the America we've known all our lives,'" said Inman's wife, Brenda.

So Inman, an Oregon resident, has set out to bring attention to small towns and rural communities, by riding his horse across the U.S.

We all want to believe that our lives have meant something, that we have made a mark on the world. Inman, who has been a rancher and riden rodeo, believes this journey is his chance to make that mark.

"I'm 47 years old and I want to do something that really makes a difference," he said.

With his horse, Blackie, Inman has come more than 500 miles since his start in Oregon on June 3.

The journey is documented through Brenda Inman's blog entries ontheir Web site, www.uncoveringamerica.com.

Bill Inman is now traveling through southernIdaho, with stops already in Mountain Home, Fairfield andHailey. By Friday or Saturday, he hopes to near Craters of the Moon, where the terrain will determine whether he continues east or turns south toward TwinFalls.

"Idaho has been tremendous," he said, between bites of pizza at The Prairie Kitchen in Fairfield. In particular, law enforcement has been helpful, Inman said, describing escorts he got from state police and Mountain Home police. He also acknowledged the reception he got from Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, who invited Inman to be the only horseman in Boise's Fourth of July parade.

For much of Inman's journey thus far, he has followed pioneers' paths, but in the opposite direction, and it has increased his appreciation for their efforts.

"Now I really respect the pioneers; what a tough bunch they had to be," he said.

He also understands why they traveled in wagon trains - the support, in terms of food, water, shelter and companionship. Inman gets those things from his wife, who drives the trailer about 10 miles ahead, then stops and waits for Inman and Blackie to catch up.

While she waits, she writes in her journal, documenting the trip and the people Inman has encountered. Some of these entries go on their Web site, and others she plans to collect into a book at the end of the trip.

Independent videographer Dallas Pesola is a de facto part of the crew, scouting shade for resting, swimming holes and camp spots when he doesn't have his camera to his eye.

It costs Inman about $8,000 a month to finance his journey, which he estimates will take about six months from Oregon to North Carolina. He hopes to earn the interest of national sponsors, but would be pleased with the interest of average Americans.

So far, he said, Americans have been more generous than he expected. Many people he meets offer him a place to stay overnight, or give him bales of hay for Blackie or groceries for the crew. In Mountain Home, police arranged a free night at a local motel and a free meal at a Chinese restaurant, offerings Inman is effusively grateful for.

Nearly everyone who passes him on the road waves - with the exception of drivers of some big motor homes, which he said frequently don't even yield the shoulder - especially motorcyclists.

"They've yelled words of encouragement going by at 70 mph," Inman said.

Inman likes a slow pace. He said he sees a lot of wildlife that motor travelers miss. But it can get a little tiring.

"It takes a lot of mental and physical endurance. You start talking to the horse - when he starts talking back you know you need a two-day break."

And Blackie gets bored, too.

"Sometimes he gets mesmerized by the white line; it's like cruise control,"Inman said.

The pair rides between 80 and 100 miles a week, with Blackie getting regular two-day rests to recuperate.

Though Inman has nothing but kind words for the rural residents he's met during his travel, it's the city kids he thinks are most affected by his journey.

"When you get into urban areas, everyone's eyes are about this big," he said, holding his hands far enough apart to span a salad plate. "I've had urban kids come up to me and say, 'I want to ride a horse, I want to get out there.' I say, 'You can.' Empty your school bag and put some supplies in there."

If they don't have access to a horse, he recommends a hike or a walk in a park - anything to spend time in nature.

After setting up a portable corral in the parking lot of the Prairie Inn, where the travelers planned to stay Saturday night, Inman removed Blackie's saddle and laid his hand on the dark horse's sweaty flank. Though Inman has received media attention for his journey, he said he's not in it for fame.

"I wouldn't care if the horse got more popular than me," he said. "I'm not riding for me. I'm riding for everybody, from people low on the economic scale to people who don't know anything about agriculture."

He hopes his travels will bring attention to the America he has known all his life, the America of generous, hard-working people and their everyday lives.

"I want 'Uncovering America' to mean something. It can be someone in rural America who's not being recognized," Inman said.

Inman's schedule Though his travels depend on weather, terrain and how hard Blackie has been working, Bill Inman estimates he will be in Hailey today, staying at the fairgrounds. By Friday or Saturday he hopes to reach Craters of the Moon, where he will decide whether to proceed east or turn south toward Twin Falls. Inman said he will keep the Times-News up-to-date on his location until he leaves southern Idaho. Watch Country Roads next week for more information. On the Web Find out more about Bill Inman's journey at www.uncoveringamerica.com.