The BIGGEST trick to stealth camping in SF is finding a level place to park,
IMHO...   There are plenty of neighborhoods that are *relatively* safe (like
the Sunset and Noe Valley) but the big problem is that breaking out the wood
blocks and propping up the tires is a bit of a giveaway...  :-)

I have parked for days in the Sunset district without any troubles (just
watch for the Tuesday street sweeping signs), but you have to get used to
waking up with a headache or your feet swelling.

That being said, sleeping in a car in urban areas always gives me the
willies - I can't shake the feeling that some cop is going to come banging
on the window at 3 AM...  For this reason, I usually feel safer sleeping in
a brightly-lit Walmart parking lot, despite the idling diesel trucks
surrounding me.  (Its kind of a Zen thing being able to fall asleep with all
that noise...)  :-)

Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy
Santa Barbara, CA

----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Transue <thetrans@earthlink.net>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2000 3:56 PM
Subject: Re: urban camping in sf

> OK no guarantees here, but there's a Holiday Inn at Fisherman's Wharf.
>
> If you go stealth (no pop up), and they don't use a parking tag system,
> you'll have a great place which is used to transient cars and its only a
few
> blocks from the Fisherman's Wharf area.
>
> In general, I've always found that the low budget motels (well not THAT
low
> budget.. chain motels not the ones which charge by the minute) offer the
> best place to crash.. even for days at a stretch. Given SF's intense
parking
> situation, the Holiday Inn may have some parking control. If so, try to
find
> a Best Western etc. not too far away. BTW, the Marin side may be better
for
> this and its cool out there too.
>
> Just ideas..
>
> Oh, and don't park on any BART or Southern Pacific tracks lest you become
> ewy gooey!
>
> :))
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> > Of Paul Bucco
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2000 2:32 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: urban camping in sf
> >
> >
> > It
> > also help to have a vehicle that is of limited interest to
> > potential thieves.
> >
> > Dan
> >
> >  OUCH!!!  That last line of your post really hurts!!  What!!!
> > Noone wants to
> > steal my Vanagon?
> >
> > Paul F. Bucco Jr.
> > ibuyvws@aol.com
> > jersey shore
> > 87  Wolfsburg Edition Vanagon/Money Pit
> > 71  Squareback  Automatic  (For Sale and still not running right!!)
> > 65 21 Window Deluxe Bus
> >
>