Having done a few training rides at night in preparation for this tour (Australia) I knew that I could get turned around in the dark or that I could talk myself into doubting that I was headed in the right direction so I took a number of precautions against getting lost at night.  I had a handheld GPS and a common compass.  I was constantly seeking out new maps and spent a fair amount of time studying them.  And as a final aid to navigation I printed some celestial charts from a software program before leaving home.  I printed the western sky from Sydney and the northern sky from Adelaide, not for any kind of precise navigation, just reassurance that I was headed in the intended direction.  Then, after listening to CSN&Y sing Southern Cross, (see Music page) I looked forward to seeing it "for the first time," and made a mental note of where to look for it; 25° above the horizon, south-southeast.  The first night rides were done in the mountains close to Sydney and the heavy traffic, the trees beside the highway and the light pollution prevented any stargazing.  But once I got out into the desert it was a different story.  The sky was clear, there were no ground lights and there was the Southern Cross (Crux), big as life though nearly upside down.  Since I was traveling west, if Crux was to my left, all was well.  I also came to know the approximate time and how long until sunrise from her position.  All in all it was a great comfort for this solo traveler in the nighttime desert.  I can imagine some ancient mariners waiting impatiently for nightfall and a clear sky for the reassurance of knowing their position and direction.