The West reporter Caitlin Vinci’s 50 minute journey using map in what should have been 20 minute drive

Usually when I hop in my car I wonder what song I should play.

But on Thursday, I faced a rather daunting question instead — how on earth do I read a map?

When I flicked through the pages of a Perth street directory for the first time, I was taken aback by how completely lost I felt, which is ironic given I had directions right in front of me.

As a 22-year-old woman, I have relied on Google Maps since the day I got my driver’s licence, and it has never failed me.

Doctor’s appointments, friends’ houses, new restaurants — I could get anywhere at the touch of a button, until I was tasked with finding my way to a nearby deli without using my mobile phone.

The Lincoln Road Deli in Morley is a 20-minute drive from my office, yet it took me 51 minutes to get there.

The hardest part — figuring out how to get to Morley from Osborne Park.

I was buried in confusion, spinning the map around to see if a new perspective would help. It didn’t.

Eventually, I connected the dots, but not in the traditional way. It wasn’t until I completed my mission, and I was shown how to use the street index and link the suburb maps to one another that I ‘sort of’ got it.

I have never driven on such high alert. I was observing every street name, every building and every traffic light.

I made sure to drive on the big yellow roads — or what the map called main arteries — because they were easier to see when I glanced at the book on my lap.

I drove slowly and with caution. And I even turned my music off to allow me to have maximum concentration.

For the first time ever I wasn’t just following my phone’s instructions knowing I was in control of my route — and it was eye-opening to say the least.

At first I was consistently looking away from what was in front of me to check that I was on the right track — which was a risky feeling — so I began to memorise street names instead. And that was a first for this map novice.

Eventually I made it — and yes, I did pull over a few times to get my bearings.