On Sun, 4 Jan 2009 08:57:23 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch
wrote:

Took my daughter kayaking yesterday with my wife and I in the canoe
and Katie in her kayak. Went in the salt marshes on the Gulf coast
here (N. FL). We got out into an area maybe 1/4 mile wide when fog
started coming in and I decided to hug shore justb in case. Sure
enough, very quickly you could barely see 50'. We easily got back by
following the shore but if we had been out in the middle, it would
have been a problem. I did not have my compass that I normally carry
in my sailing bag. From now on, compass goes with me on all trips.

A compass is a good thing but even better is a handheld GPS that
creates an electronic trail of breadcrumbs that you can follow back.

I have a Garmin Geko that I carry in the dinghy when we are exploring
wilderness areas. It has saved my butt a couple of times in the
Everglades where everything begins to look alike after a while.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=220#geko201