THE ADVENTURES OF PERIWINKLE & STINKY: PART CCXXX

Stinky Waits for Periwinkle

Stinky is waiting by the teleportation tunnel. He is happy that Kizmet and Cooper Murphy have vacated it. Yesterday, when he found them both head-first in it looking for Periwinkle, he thought it was some type of April Fool’s joke. (You can see their photo and read their conversation on yesterday’s post, “Gratitude & an Overheard Conversation.” They were confused, however, as to the day of the week. Stinky warned them to stay out of the tunnel today.

Stinky doesn’t have to wait long. He hears the familiar whoosh from the tunnel and hurries to catch Periwinkle as she comes tumbling out. They spend several minutes whisker kissing and paw hugging. Then Stinky takes Periwinkle’s paw and leads her back into the tunnel. Moments later they arrive at the destination for the start of today’s adventure, the Battery in Lower Manhattan.

Ferry to Liberty Island & Some Facts

Periwinkle looks around and then claps her paws together. “Oh goody, a boat ride. I love to feel the wind in my furs. Where are we going on the boat, Stinky?’ she asks. He tells her to read the name on the side of the boat.

Periwinkle replies, “Wow, the Statue of Liberty! Why did you choose this for our adventure today?”

 

“You know, Periwinkle, this is our 230th adventure, and it becomes more difficult with each week to find new and exiting things to do.” Periwinkle nods her head in agreement, and Stinky continues. “On April 2, 1834, the French sculptor of the Statue of Liberty, Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, was born. That was 190 years ago today, so it seemed like a good time to check the lady out.”

As Stinky and Periwinkle get on the ferry for the ride to the statue, Stinky tells Periwinkle that when it was dedicated on October 28, 1886, by President Grover Cleveland, the full name of the statue was Liberty Enlightening the World. It was a gift from France to commemorate the friendship between the two countries as well as the centennial of the United States’ Declaration of Independence.

The Statue of Liberty

 

 

As the tabbies approach the statue on the ferry, they are amazed at just how huge it is. Stinky tells Periwinkle that the statue is made from copper and steel and measures 151 feet 1 inch tall. He also tells her that he read on one site that she weighs 225 tons but another said 204 tons. The latter is equivalent to the weight of about 35 elephants.

After they disembark, Stinky and Periwinkle walk to the statue. It is a very long walk, and both tabbies wish Stinky had programmed the coordinates so the tunnel had delivered them directly to the island. Once they reach the statue and have a bit of a rest, Stinky continues to tell Periwinkle about it.

 

 

“Periwinkle, the height of Lady Liberty’s face is 17 feet 3 inches, which is approximately three times that of the average human’s total height. It is said to be modeled after sculptor Bartholdi’s mother’s face. Her waistline measures 35 feet, which is just short of the length of a yellow school bus. The statue would need size 879 shoes, as her feet are 25 feet long.

By the time Stinky finishes giving Periwinkle these facts, her mouth is hanging open in awe.

As the tabbies walk around Liberty Island, Stinky tells Periwinkle more about the construction of the statue.

“France and the United States raised the funds to build the statue. Construction took place in Paris, beginning in 1870. It was made from 3/32 inch copper sheets (the thickness of two pennies), hammered into shape by hand and assembled over a framework of four gigantic steel supports. Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duand designed those, and Gustave Eiffel finished them.”

“Stinky is that the same person who built the Eiffel Tower in Paris?”

“Yes it is, Periwinkle.”

“That’s pretty cool! Can we go inside the statue, Stinky?”

“Yes, we can.” Stinky takes Periwinkle’s paw and they go inside the statue.

A Trip to the Top

“Periwinkle, we can go up in the crown if you like. We’ll be able to see some of Eiffel’s framework and feel the thickness of the copper. We’ll also get a good view of the torch and the tablet Lady Liberty holds. It is the tablets of law, which is inscribed with the date the Declaration of Independence was adopted, July 4, 1776, in Roman numerals: (July IV, MDCCLXXVI),” Stinky explains.

That sounds fabulous, Stinky. Let’s do it.”

“There is one small thing you need to know, Periwinkle, before we do. We’ll have to be a little sneaky. The minimum height for visiting the crown is 42 inches, and we will have to climb up 20 stories, which amounts to 162 steps on a confined spiral staircase.”

“Yikes, that is a lot, and my paws are already smarting. But we cannot come this far and not to it.”

“I totally agree,” declares Stinky, and the tabbies start the trek up the stairs.

 

 

“Stinky, I’m exhausted, but this was definitely worth the climb,” exclaims Periwinkle. Stinky doesn’t reply, but climbs through the opening in crown. Periwinkle gasps and tries to grab him, but he eludes her.

 

‘Stinky, you get your butt in here right this instant, or I will no longer go on any adventures with you and am breaking up with you,” yells Periwinkle. Stinky doesn’t reply and takes a few seconds before he scrambles up the statue’s hair and jumps back inside next to Periwinkle. She doesn’t say anything but smacks Stinky upside the head and starts down the stairs without him.

Stinky hurries to catch up and when the tabbies arrive back at the base, Stinky has a picnic lunch with lots of treats waiting for them.

 

 

Stinky gives Periwinkle a little grin and apologizes for his inability to control his urge to climb on things. Periwinkle is pouting and begins eating without replying. But, after her tummy is full, she forgives Stinky and gives him a big hug. While the tabbies are resting after their lunch, Stinky tells Periwinkle about the torch in the statue’s hand.

Lady Liberty’s Torch

The top of her torch is actually at 305 feet because of the 27,000 ton base beneath the statue. The torch is emblematic of freedom and democracy and stands at the top most point of the statue in its right hand. It is approximately 29 feet in length and weighs 450,000 pounds. The torch is made of copper and rests on a steel framework, which also was designed by Gustave Eiffel. It was designed originally to function as a lighthouse, and was open to visitors until July 30, 1916. That’s when it was damaged by an explosion on the nearby, manmade island, Black Tom. The explosion was an act of sabotage by agents from the German Empire to destroy a munitions depot on the island. At least four people were killed and $20,000,000 ($560 million in 2024 dollars) worth of military goods were destroyed.

“Stinky, I am certainly happy the torch is closed to visitors, our you would have climbed up to the tippy top of the flame,” Periwinkle remarks.

Stinky doesn’t reply but gives Periwinkle a wink, paw hug and whisker kiss.

He continues to tell Periwinkle about the torch. “The torch has undergone several renovations, modifications and restorations. It was converted to electric power in 1916. The original torch was removed in 1984 and the replacement made in 1986 for the statue’s centennial celebration. The new torch is constructed of copper and covered in gold leaf. It reflects the sun’s rays in the daytime and is lit by 16 LED floodlights at night.”

The original torch is in the Statue of Liberty Museum, which we can visit now if you like,” Stinky tells Periwinkle. She agrees and they head to the museum.

Statue of Liberty Museum

 

 

“This looks very different from the current flame, don’t you think, Stinky? The shape reminds me of a teapot,” says Periwinkle.

“Yes, I guess it does look a bit like that,” replies Stinky.

“I’m certainly happy we can get this close without you having to climb on the torch, and don’t you dare climb over this railing,” warns Periwinkle.

Stinky does not reply to her comment but tells Periwinkle it is time to head home, and he takes her paw to lead her back to the ferry.

Heading Home

 

 

On the tabbies return trip to the Lower Manhattan ferry dock, Stinky tells Periwinkle, “The Statue of Liberty received the designations as a National Historical site in 1924 and a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Site in 1984.”

“This has been a terrific adventure, Stinky, and I really learned lots. I always appreciate how thoroughly you research our destinations. But, please, will you try to behave yourself. I don’t want to lose you, and you could so easily have a seizure and fall from one of these places you persist in climbing.”

As he always does, Stinky promises to try to behave himself. Of course, he never says he will, just that he will try. Periwinkle accepts this, as she loves Stinky so much.

When the two reach the ferry dock, they hop back in the teleportation tunnel and arrive at Stinky’s house moments later.

It’s been another long and exhausting adventure. After saying,”hi,” to Stinky’s parents and fursibs, Periwinkle heads back to the tunnel. The two share a few more whisker kisses and paw hugs. Then, with the usual whoosh, Periwinkle is off with a final wave and blown kiss.

Stinky has his snack and meds and heads to bed to dream of Periwinkle.

The End

Periwinkle and Stinky will be participating in the Happy Tuesday blog hop at Comedy Plus. If you would like to jon them there, click on the badge below.

Stinky and Periwinkle thank you for joining them today and hope you enjoyed today’s adventure.