In order to continue to live at Guhyaloka Retreat Center, Del Bagno had to return to the USA to wait for his long term residency visa to be issued, which they said would take more than 6 months. He wanted to continue living the meditative life he had been living in Spain, so rather than getting an apartment which then requires a job and all that goes with it, Del Bagno bought a used workingman’s van, had insulation, paneling and a bed put in and spent the next 6 months living in one National Forest after another around the Pacific Northwest. He travelled in a wide loop from San Francisco to Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. then out to Missoula, Montana and back.
He returned to Guhyaloka, but then came back to the USA the following Spring. He continued his travels and enjoyed day to day life immersed in Big Nature, reciting the Buddha-name out to the highways, rivers and mountains. As Fall was coming on, he had three little fender benders within two weeks and took it as a sign that it was finally time to get off the road.
Dark brown Buddhist mala (rosary) around Del Bagno’s neck for long periods of counting off recitations of Amitabha’s name.
When travelling, the cabin tent was stored under the bed in the van and the wood-burning stove turned on its side and strapped down to serve as a table.