Day Ten- Mayfield

17 miles- “Chagrin n. -distress or embarrassment at having failed. v. -feel distressed or humiliated,” is the dictionary definition. So how does a nice clean river in northeastern Ohio get saddled with a name like the Chagrin River?

A map maker, Lewis Evan’s, in 1755 said the river was called the Elk River, but he may have just made that up. There is a story that the local Native American term for “clear water” was shagarin which was later anglicized to the word Chagrin. Another story notes that SIEUR DE SAGUIN (no first name known) was a fur trapper and agent of France who was the first European to established an outpost in the area in 1742. He was associated with the river and well known to the indigenous people. They called him “Shaguin,” because there was no “s” sound in their language, only an “sh.” Then, in 1796, another map maker, Seth Pease, was assigned to create a map of the Connecticut Western Reserve for the Connecticut Land Co. and changed the river’s name from Shaguin to Chagrine. However it happened, the river is known as the Chagrin River today.

As you no doubt, suspect, most of my day was spent walking along the course of the Chagrin River. And, I’m sure it comes as no surprise, the path was a mixed bag of roads, forest trails, and bike path. The rain that was promised today never materialized, but it was overcast, which kept the temperature more moderate. So overall a good day of hiking. I am again “camped” at a motel tonight in the town of Mayfield, a somewhat soulless suburb of Cleveland.

Until tomorrow, Happy Trails!