Joe's Rock

Today, the Ambling Trinity hiked up Joe's Rock.  It's an easy walk on a beautiful day.  This is conservation land in the town of Wrentham MA.  Joan, who is in the sign picture with me is 89 years old.  She didn't walk up the way to the top.  She says she's gotten vertigo as she's gotten older.

Here we are, the Ambling Trinity: Lillie, Joan, and me.

Joe's rock is a property that has hills, dales, meadows, bogs, woods, cliffs, wetlands, rivers, etc..  The rock itself has an elevation of 490 feet.

King Philip is a well-known name in my area of the world.  He was a friendly (for awhile) Indian to the English settlers in the 1600's.  King Philip was the name the English gave him because of his demeanor.  I don't think it was ridicule; I gather it was respectful.  King Philip was also known as Pometacom, Metacomet.  He was a sachem (elected chief) to the Wampanoags and the second son of Massasoit.  Massasoit was a great leader to the Wampanoag people and an immense help to the English settlers.  They would never have survived without Massasoit, hence Thanksgiving!!!!  

I have no information on the Joe of "Joe's Rock,"  except that he was the sachem of King Philip.  This area must have been his home.  The area has everything one would need to live: water, fish, animals, vegetation, and a sense of transcendence.

This is the view from the top of Joe's Rock.  There should be a pond in front of the rock, but it is very dry.  The rivers are streams.  There're no vernal pools.  The wetlands are gone.  Although, the area is still very interesting and beautiful in a geologic and aesthetic way.