If it was your first night under way, that sounds like the Molokai Channel. It always seems to be rough, and is in just the right place to initiate new sailors. It was traditional to serve the greasiest pork chops the cooks could manage to serve. One of the Bos’n Mates would hide in one of the stalls in the head, and when someone would finish puking his guts out, he would emerge from his stall, and ask the poor guy how he was doing, all whilst licking a big lump of peanut butter he had in the palm of his hand. That was usually enough to send the new guy back to a new session of praying to the porcelain god.

Yep, most of the shoreline looks the same and very few visible landmarks. Either go out with someone who truly knows their way around or get a good map (Fish-n-Maps) and a grease pencil then mark your route at every intersection as you go. Also look behind you often especially after you make a turn.

Also use the two peaks on Mt Diablo as a bearing point. The distance between the two varies noticably depending on your viewing angle. Make sure to make a point of studying the peaks when you launch (or take a picture).

Make sure you get info on the tides and current from the boat launch. Some sloughs (e.g., Dutch Slough, False River) can easily overwhelm an under-powered boat. There are also areas that are passable at high tide that you'll will have to navigate around at low tide (the map can be essential for this).

BTW-the area that these guys were fishing in was in the main channel. They didn't venture very far into the Delta proper.

Word has gotten back that some of you Texans who choose to live in other states have browbeaten your supermarket managers to order Wolf Brand Chili. Stop this at once! You keep it up and I will personally go to the plant and substitute a case of dog food with red labels! Their clerks won’t notice any difference, even if they can read!

You all can either come back home, do without, or persuade another food manufacturer to begin making real chili. Also, you could make your own by buying a Wick Fowler Four Alarm Chili mix. Chili is not rocket science, it isn’t even school cafeteria level, it's chili! No, it isn’t tomato soup, or anything northern chefs believe they can whip up unless they are Mexican!

I don’t cook! I have been known to burn steaks, but this isn’t rocket science. It is simple, but it is not easy! You probably do not even know the history of Chili. It was first born as food for prisoners in the jail in San Antonio for meat that had passed its “expiration date” and then some!

I suppose the theory was between the heat and the chili and other peppers, no harmful organism could possibly survive! I have heard of chicken chili, fish chili, raccoon chili, buffalo chili, elk chili, so the opportunities are wide open. I think the ‘possum’ chili is still an open category.

Now if you saw read the book or seen the movie, “Fried Green Tomatos” I don’t recommend using a deputy sheriff as good barbeque, or chili! As far as economical meals, I doubt that many other ‘meat’ dishes can come close. As far as economy you can fill up a family of four with one can of Wolf Brand Chili. How long has it been since you have had a hot steaming bowl? Well, that is too long. Except for all you Texans living out of state! Just Sayin…RJS