On one of his adventures in the last few weeks, Sam visited Inwood Park near his home. It's the last bit of primeval forest in Manhattan and, although we didn't see any, eagles are starting to make their home here.
The trees were huge
They soared above our Sam.
It was good that he had his safari hat on. Otherwise he could easily have gotten lost in the foliage:
And there are few things better than sun-dappled
forest floors, particularly in the middle of New York City!
It's always interesting to follow Sam's lead and see what really intrigues him. In this case it was not the playground, not the forest, but a rock. Not just any rock, though. In 1626, it is said, Dutch governor Peter Minuit purchased Manhattan Island from the Canarsie Indians for a collection of beads and trinkets valued at 60 guilders, ascertained to be worth 24 US dollars. The price was actually around $2,400 for all of the goods paid the Indians. Big money in those days. Around 1640 the Dutch and the Canarsie's wiped out the local tribe of Weekquaeskeeks. The rock, called Skorakopock Rock, is on the exact site of a giant tulip tree, its girth marked by a concrete ring around the rock, where the transaction took place. The tree remained until 1933.
Sam was fascinated by this rock, the plaque, and particularly the raised letters...
He loved the feel of the letters, and I predict he will love the letters themselves when he makes the connection. It certainly gives us ideas when it comes time to teach him his alphabet. I tried to take him away, to continue our journey, and he just wouldn't hear of it. He examined those letters for at least twenty minutes, and would have stayed longer except that the sun was sinking and we had a long walk home.
Awww gramps... just five more minutes here?
You can find more information and pictures of Inwood Park here. Scroll down to the bottom, to the photo of our intersection. I had thought I was the only one who saw the joke. I guess that's not true :)
It still makes me smile every time we leave the house.
