Bodhinatha decided to follow an old pattern Gurudeva himself did -- drive himself to destinations on the mainland.

Having your own car has a lot of pluses: it is less expensive than air; you spare yourself all the overhead of check in and check for a short flight; you have independence and stop when you need to; arrive in “stealth mode” and check into the hotel without bothering local devotees, and best of all you are alone with your monastic traveling companion enjoying the quiet and the view, getting to see the country side. After all, it’s only 2 hours room San Antonio and Austin.