Thursday 30/10/14
If you own a car, I can't stress the importance of carrying a map in your car's glove-box. GPS and other satellite navigation technology are great, but they aren't infallible. Glitches in the software and geographical errors in the program can lead you many miles off course if you aren't paying attention.
Your GPS should never replace common sense. If the GPS tells you to continue driving straight ahead, but the road has ended and all you can see in front of you is a horse paddock, you should probably turn around and look for another route to your destination. I can guarantee that neither the farmer nor the horses will appreciate your attempts at off-roading.
In your glove-box you should carry at least two maps. The first is a detailed map of your district. Despite living in the area, nobody knows every road in their region. The second map is a map of your state. If you're game, I'd also recommend carrying a map of your country. You probably won't use the last two very often, but if you have room to spare in your glove-box, why not carry them?
Once you have your maps, take the time to familiarise yourself with them. Make sure you know how to read them and estimate distances on them. I know having to read a map is time consuming and challenging for some people, but remember, maps never run out of battery or need software updates.