GETTING a flat tyre in the outback would throw a spanner in the works for most travellers. Now imagine your car is a 1924 Model T Ford, and you haven't just got a flat ... the entire wheel has come loose.
That's exactly what happened to Colbinabbin, Vic, retiree Norm Morgan, who struck trouble halfway through an epic 5000km road trip of a lifetime in his 93-year-old "Tin Lizzie".
The 77-year-old was into a five-week driving adventure with his cousin Phil Muir - in a 1968 Austin truck - which saw them traverse rugged terrain via Birdsville and Cameron's Crossing.
All was going well until they were about 80km out Innamincka, near the South Australia- NSW border, when the wheels - or rather wheel - literally fell off.
"Well the car is over 90 years old!" Norm said.
"Luckily the local town ranger had introduced himself the day before and gave us his number in case we needed anything. Little did he know he'd very soon be getting a call."
The man took the duo to his workshop and they ended up spending a week in town waiting for a part to be delivered.
"A more helpful man you wouldn't find," said Norm adding that they met many amazing people along the way who were all interested in the old cars.
Norm had always wanted to go to Cameron's Corner, where the borders of Queensland, NSW and South Australia meet.
"I was reasonably confident the car would make it, but packed my tools in case," he said. "Originally we were going to go left at Mildura but took another route and ended up all the way in Birdsville."
He was struck by the beauty of the remote landscape.
"There is just so much to see. Some might say the country is desolate but it's beautiful in its own way."
The pair covered about 150km a day, communicating via two-way radio. Many nights were spent sleeping under the stars. While Phil slept in the back of his truck, Norm slept in a swag alongside his car.
One night at Walker's Crossing sticks in his mind. "You would not believe the stars - you could see all the way to the horizon. And then the moon was so bright you could read by it. I'll never forget that night."
Despite the Innamincka hiccup - and the fact that the car's suspension was "not much better than a horse and cart" - Norm described his journey as "the trip of a lifetime".
He's gearing up hit the road again next year.
"The car isn't all that comfortable and it's got no doors or windows so it gets quite noisy, and a bit cold at times," he said.
"But it's an amazingly tough vehicle and really quite flexible."
"We travelled 4960km at a top speed of 65kph and an average speed around 35kph and people have asked how boring was that. How little do narrow-minded folks know!
"At no time was it boring. On the other side of every sand dune and around every bend was another challenge.
"We live in a wide brown land, and while some people find it uninteresting and prefer the bright lights, central Australia in its own queer way really is a beautiful ever-changing landscape."
Like his 93-year-old car, Norm says he's also in good condition and ready for exploring the Oodnadatta Track. "I've never felt more alive!"
