Twas a sad day in Petersville but a few short weeks ago. To tell you the truth it’s not until now that I have had the heart to sit down and speak about the passing of Puma.
My baby had served us well. She had taken us across this great land to places most only dream of. She had battled hot dry deserts, cold wet deserts and unbelievably flooded deserts. She had endured the bitter cold of South Australia, stood by us as we negotiated COVID stricken borders, and on the odd occasion, even overtaken quad trailer road trains; admittedly down hill.
Puma was more than a car. She embodied all that is Land Rover. An experience every time we drove her. Be it yet another break down experience or a new rattle experience or just and adventure experience. She was pure Land Rover. Pure Defender. Part of our family. She had heart. She had soul.
But she had to go.
It was with shock to our closest friends that we (Peter) made the decision to sell Puma. Even after the logical explanation as to why, they stood with blank faces, unable to communicate for long seconds. Puma was gone! She had created such an impact, they too, felt the loss.
After our last trip to Western Australia, we realised that Puma simply did not have the grunt to tow our caravan at a reasonable clip without being driven beyond her happy place. We had to work her too hard all of the time. Doing this year after year in remote parts of Australia is asking for trouble. We needed something with more power and torque. Peter’s commitment to the gods of mechanical empathy was simply too strong.
Puma has gone to a new home. A young family who love Defender’s, love off-roading and fell head over heels for Puma the moment they cast eyes upon her. She has gone to a good home, a loving family and new adventures.
To say we miss her is an understatement. We would have sooner cut off our left arm than see her go, yet life sometimes twists in ways you don’t always plan. It was the right decision. The right painful decision for the time.
Till we meet again.
