In-The-Moment

San Diego Baby! What do you think?

Bring Buffy's Paddleboard and get a wetsuit. Also magnetic hook for hanging wetsuit. Home Depot or Lowe's. Head to the hardware aisle where they keep the specialty fasteners and heavy-duty storage hooks. Look for brand names like Magna-Hook or Master Magnetics.

If bringing bike, keep it inside while camping/surfing/etc.

Ioverlander link for overnight camping:
GPS: 32.82904, -117.16055.
https://ioverlander.com/places/b7200c8e-e34e-49d7-8431-c94d26dadc72 Lots of parking along a street in an industrial area. Reported to not be a bust. But have a backup spot. A few fulltimers here. Quiet at night. We heard that police will not bother vehicle dwellers if they park in an industrial area, so we chose to stay here instead of the many parking lots and residential areas marked on this app. Stayed a few nights, no problems. No signs prohibiting parking or about street sweeping. Dogs are fine just please clean up after them.

Can Also check out Hicamp: This example Spot

Sunday: Arrival & Basecamp Setup

• 1:00 PM – Drive Out: Depart Phoenix via the I-8 West corridor. It’s a straightforward 5-hour drive through the desert.
• 6:30 PM – Check-In: Roll directly into Campland on the Bay.
• The Evening Plan: Park, hook up your power if needed, and head to the resort showers. Grab a fresh meal out of your 12V fridge, set up your bed, and get a stress-free night of sleep knowing you are legally and securely parked right on the water.

Monday: Front-Row Office & Classic Rollers

• 7:30 AM – Secure the Spot: Drive 10 minutes from Campland to Tourmaline Surf Park. Grab a spot on the lower tier facing the water. Set up your satellite dish facing the clear sky.
• 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM – Morning Shift: Work with your side or back doors wide open to the ocean breeze.
• 12:00 PM – Lunch Surf: Pull your wetsuit on, grab a quick bite from the fridge, and walk right onto the sand. Spend 60–90 minutes catching Tourmaline's famous, slow-rolling beginner waves.
• 1:30 PM – Rinse & Re-log: Use the public outdoor showers right next to the van to wash off the saltwater. Hop back in the van, dry off, and log into your afternoon meetings.
• 7:00 PM – Stealth Mode: Wrap up work, catch the sunset, and drive 15 minutes inland to the Ronson Road industrial area. Arrive after business hours, park cleanly away from commercial driveways, close your opaque curtains, and slide into stealth sleep mode.

Tuesday: Clifftop Deep Work & Protected Bay Surf

• 7:30 AM – Bluffs Workspace: Wake up early and drive 15 minutes down to Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. Park in one of the paved or dirt clifftop pockets. Deploy your satellite dish for an inspiring morning work block looking down at the open ocean.
• 11:15 AM – Transition: Pack up the dish and drive 20 minutes north to La Jolla Shores.
• 12:00 PM – Lunch Surf: Midday Tuesday is a quiet window here as the morning surf schools pack up. Paddle out into the naturally protected, ultra-gentle sandy beach break. Use the Kellogg Park outdoor showers to rinse down your board and wetsuit.
• 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM – Afternoon Shift: Finish your work day right from the massive La Jolla Shores parking lot.
• 7:00 PM – Free Parking: Drive 15 minutes back to your stealth pocket on Ronson Road for a zero-cost night of sleep.

Wednesday: Elite Coastal Parking & The "Recharge" Night

• 7:00 AM – The Early Catch: Drive 15 minutes to Law Street Beach in North Pacific Beach. Arriving early is key to snagging one of the parallel spaces right on the grassy cliff over the sand.
• 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM – Morning Shift: Sit sideways in your van looking straight out of your sliding door at the surf lineup.
• 12:00 PM – Lunch Surf: Walk down the beach stairs and paddle out into the mellow beach break, or take a 2-minute drive down the block to the Tourmaline parking lot showers if you prefer their rinse stations.
• 1:30 PM – Finish the Day: Power through your afternoon tasks under the shade of the park trees.
• 5:30 PM – Resort Return: Drive back to Campland on the Bay for your second reserved night. Dump your gray water, fill up your fresh water tank, and take a long, hot resort shower.

Thursday: The Grand Finale & Smooth Drive Home

• 8:00 AM – Final Workspace: Drive back up to La Jolla Shores Lot. Set up the satellite one last time and knock out your morning deliverables.
• 12:00 PM – The Last Paddle: Sneak in one final lunch surf session in the gentle sandy whitewater. Do a thorough rinse-down of all your gear so you aren't packing wet, salty gear into your van for the hot desert drive.
• 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM – Wrap it Up: Log back in, tie up any loose work ends, and clear your inbox.
• 5:00 PM – Post-Work Dinner: Cook a quick dinner out of your 12V fridge, pack your satellite dish securely inside the van, and watch one last San Diego sunset.
• 6:30 PM – Hit the Road: Roll onto the I-8 East highway to completely bypass the afternoon commuter gridlock and cruise smoothly back to Phoenix by midnight.

Surf & Skate Shops

• Mitch's Surf Shop (La Jolla & Solana Beach): This is a true San Diego institution. If you want a classic, no-nonsense core surf shop with a massive wall of wax, fins, and expert advice on local conditions, stop here. It is highly respected by locals and very welcoming to beginners looking to gear up. • Surf Diva Surf Shop (La Jolla Shores): Located just blocks from your Tuesday/Thursday surf spot. While it is famous for being a premier women's surf school, their physical retail shop is a massive, inclusive hub for surfers of all levels. It is one of the best places in town to buy your 3/2mm wetsuit, rash guards, or heavy-duty surf accessories. • Route 44 Skate Shop (San Diego / Clairemont): If you want to check out the local skate scene while staying inland near your Ronson Road stealth spot, Route 44 is an excellent, skater-owned shop tucked just a few minutes south of the industrial area. They have a great selection of decks, hardware, and apparel.

Post-Surf Sandwich Spots

• Board & Brew (Pacific Beach): Located on Garnet Avenue, just minutes from Tourmaline and Law Street. This is the unofficial culinary home of San Diego surf culture. They are famous for their massive, beach-ready sandwiches—get the Turkado (Turkey and Avocado) on squaw bread and make sure to ask for extra Turkado Sauce (their secret sweet-and-sour orange sauce). It is the perfect post-surf fuel to eat right out of your van wrapper. • The Cheese Shop (La Jolla Shores): An absolute must-visit when you are parked at La Jolla Shores. Operating since 1972, this hidden gem sits just a short walk from the sand. They roast their own meats in-house. Order the Pork Loin and Capicola sandwich, grab a slice of their homemade pie, and pick up a handful of old-school bulk candies for the van workspace. • Rubicon Deli (Mission Beach / Pacific Beach): If you want a truly massive sandwich built on gourmet bread that is baked fresh every single morning, hit Rubicon. Their "Crushed Avocado" or "Deli Medley" on Dutch Crunch bread can easily be split into two meals, making it perfect to keep in your 12V van fridge for a quick bite between remote work calls.

This post (Travel 2026-11-08 Sun to Thursday San Diego) was last edited 0 minutes ago.