"Jay Honeck" wrote
If I were you, my very next action would be to get on Ebay, and buy yourself
a nice, used GPS. They can be had quite cheaply, and it'll allow you to
relax a bit (I *know* you're going to be up-tight about this experience for
a while!) and concentrate on flying the plane.

IMNSHO that's the worst possible advice. Joe, don't do it.

What happened is no big deal - file a NASA form if it makes you feel
better (they're free so no reason not to) but trust me, this isn't the
kind of thing the feds bust people for. Student pilot briefly gets
lost, but sorts out the problem and lands safely - talk about a
non-event. Yes, you inadvertently busted some airspace - no harm, no
foul. Part of the reason you go on solo XC is to get lost! It's a
great learning experience, and it sounds like you've learned a lot.

Virtually everyone I know got lost on a student solo XC flight, myself
included. Some triangulated with the VOR, some buzzed a water tower
to read the name of the town, and I even know one who landed in a
farmer's field to ask directions. With time, you get better. You
learn to pick out landmarks and runways out of the haze. You learn to
keep track of your position. And eventually, you just don't get lost
anymore unless you want to.

The reason for the solo XC requirement is to give you experience.
With the GPS, you wouldn't have had this experience - just the hours.
Learn to do without it - because it won't always be there.

I know a pilot who had to land in a field - she couldn't find the
airport after her GPS batteries died. Don't be her.

Michael