THE ADVENTURES OF PERIWINKLE & STINKY: PART CCXC

Meeting Up With Periwinkle

Stinky is up early to get ready for his adventure with his fiancée Periwinkle. As their adventure is going to be roughly about halfway between their homes in Virginia and Florida, he has sent her coordinates for her teleportation tunnel. That way, they can meet at their destination and have more time to explore. He wants to make certain he is already there to greet Periwinkle when she arrives, so sets out early.

He is waiting outside a huge hanger when he hears the familiar whooshing sound from her tunnel and she pops out right into his waiting paws. They share a huge hug and some whisker kisses before Periwinkle begins to look around. “So, where are we?” she asks. “You never tell me where the coordinates you send will take me,” she adds.

Delta Flight Museum

“We are in Atlanta and more specifically at the Delta Flight Museum,” Stinky replies. 

“Well, that does explain why I see a huge jet plane across the way. Why did you choose this for today.”

Stinky tells Periwinkle, ”This year marks the 100th anniversary of Delta Airlines; though, the company did not begin flying passengers until 1929. In March of 1925, the world’s first aerial crop-dusting company and largest privately-owned aircraft fleet in the United States became Huff Daland Dusters, Inc. and began carrying mail. That company later became Delta Airlines. My mom and dad visited here several years ago, and Mom suggested it for us to commemorate the anniversary.”

“Okey, dokey. Sounds like as good a plan as any,” replies Periwinkle.

With her in agreement, Stinky takes Periwinkle’s paw and leads her into the huge hanger. Immediately upon entering the tabbies feel dwarfed and a bit intimidated by even the smallest of the aircraft in the building. Never afraid, however, to try something new, they set out to explore. It doesn’t take long for Periwinkle to become suspicious of Stinky’s reason for selecting their adventure for today. 

Note: To learn more about each of the individual aircraft in this post, click on the Headings featuring the names. There is a link to the Delta Flight Museum in the third paragraph beneath the photo below.

(Travel Air S-6000-B)

 

 

Before Periwinkle can even blink, Stinky is climbing on the wheel of the first plane they encounter. She cannot believe how naive she was in thinking he might behave himself. The hanger full of airplanes is too big of a temptation. 

As Stinky stands on the tire of a single-engine plane with an enclosed cabin (Travel Air S-6000-B), he explains to Periwinkle that it represents the Air Travel airplane that flew Delta’s first passenger flight. It carried one pilot and five passengers. The price new was $13,500.

Everything you could want to know about Delta Airlines, including every brand and model of plane that has ever been a member of the Delta fleet, visit Delta Flight Museum.

Periwinkle is admiring a plane overhead when she notices Stinky is missing. She does a double take when she sees him sitting on the propeller and then atop it.

Stinson Reliant SR aircraft (SR-1 to SR-10)

 

 

Periwinkle shouts at Stinky, “Come down from there right now. How the heck did you even get up there? If you fall and break your neck, your parents will never forgive me.”

“I am not going to fall, and even if I did I would land upright on my paws. And besides that, I am certain I have at least five lives left after this one.” Periwinkle cannot argue with his logic, but she remains aggravated by his behavior.

Douglas DC-3

Though, Stinky knows Periwinkle is miffed at him; he scampers right up onto the wing of the next plane. She keeps an eye on him from below the cockpit.

 

 

The DC-3 aircraft (Ship 41) was one of five brand-new DC-3s ordered by Delta from Douglas Aircraft Co. It was delivered on January 4, 1941, and went into service on January 19. In 1990 a group of retirees set out to find the original five DC-3s. Discovered in service as a cargo plane in Puerto Rico, Delta acquired it in 1995. It was restored in Atlanta by Delta employees and volunteers. The restored aircraft was flown for the first time on November 17, 1999.

When Stinky doesn’t come, Periwinkle decides not to say anything more about his antics. In fact, she decides to adopt the, “if you can’t beat them, join them” attitude. She figures she can keep a better watch on Stinky if she just accompanies him. So, she too climbs up to the wing of the DC-3.

 

 

The Spirit of Delta Flight Deck

 

 

The tabbies decide to check out the flight deck of the Boeing 767-232. “Stinky, this is mind boggling. Can you even imagine trying to fly this?”

“No … I think my parents’ iPhones and laptops are complicated. This is just nuts!”

The Queen of the Skies Boeing 747

The tabbies decide to visit the 747-400 aircraft on display outside.

 

 

“Stinky, this thing is humongous. Pretty please, do not run off anywhere. I would never find you.”

Stinky agrees that they should stay together while exploring. He then proceeds to tell Periwinkle just how big the jumbo jet is. “The 747-400 is 231 feet 10 inches long, with a wing span of 211 feet five inches and it has a height of 63 feet eight inches. At take-off it has a maximum weight of 875,000 pounds. Its maximum speed is almost 572 miles per hour.”

After exploring the entire aircraft, the tabbies check out the flight deck.

 

 

“I don’t know about you Stinky, but my paws are really starting to ache. I think I am ready to take a rest and maybe get a snack. What about you?”

“Definitely tired and in need of food, but we have to do one more thing first.”

Periwinkle groans but takes Stinky’s paw and lets him lead her back outside.

 

 

“Wow, Stinky, I know we are little cats, but …”

Stinky giggles, “I know, this thing is ginormous!”

”Okay, so, I am hungry. Is there a snack bar or did you bring a picnic lunch?”

”Unfortunately, neither. We are going to have to go back to my house. And, it is raining there, so we will have to eat inside.”

”Suits me, let’s go. The tabbies head back to their tunnels. Stinky folds up Periwinkle’s tunnel and puts it inside his. Then he and Periwinkle hop in.

Moments later, they arrive at Stinky’s house.

Snack Time

Stinky & Periwinkle immediately rush to the kitchen where Mom Janet fixes them a snack. Of course, when some of the Kitties Blue hear the word, “snack,” they hop on the counter to join them.

 

 

When Periwinkle and Stinky have licked their bowls clean, it is time for Periwinkle to head home. She thanks Stinky’s mom for the noms and then heads toward her teleportation tunnel, which Stinky has unfolded and set up. The two spend several minutes whispering “I love you,” to each other, whisker kissing and paw hugging. Then with a final wave and blown kiss, Periwinkle enters her tunnel and is gone in a whoosh.

Stinky heads to the bedroom for a nap and dreams of Periwinkle.

The End

Stinky and Periwinkle will be participating in the Happy Tuesday blog hop hosted by Sandee at Comedy Plus. To do the same click on the Happy badge.