Time to call it a day. The tent is set up at China Hole (looking northeast up the canyon).

Time to go in and relax a bit (and get away from the gnats buzzing around!) before making supper.

Once I get inside, I hear voices, I think. No, it's not just leaves rustling in the breeze. I peer out the tent and see three or four backpackers further up the canyon, apparently looking to set up camp, which they do.

There isn't supposed to be anyone else camping here tonight; there's just one site and I've reserved it. They stay out of sight, like good campers.

After it gets dark and the gnats go away, I step outside to boil water for my last add-water-to-bag backpacker's meal; Mary Jane's Kettle Chili (vegan), supplemented by some spicy beef jerky on the side. The chili is really good, though I think of it more as a hearty lentil stew than as chili.

I have an excellent sleep, again.

Continue to Day 9: China Hole to Park Headquarters, followed by the ride home to downtown San José.