Wednesday 22 December from Vincennes to Chennevières

Vincent van Gogh, guinguette du Martin-Pêcheur 

Without a care for the weather ha ha we will jauntily cross the Bois de Vincennes to the banks of the Marne which we will follow to La Varenne Chennevières. The 15 km walk will take us to the ile du Martin-Pêcheur (Kingfisher Island) and its famous guinguette. Continuing down the Marne past a succession of other islands we'll take particular note of the remarkable "Anglo-Norman" architecture of the houses facing the river.


C'est sans se soucier de la météo (hum!) que nous traverserons allègrement le bois de Vincennes et rejoindrons les rives de la Marne qui nous mèneront jusqu'à La Varenne-Chennevières. Ce parcours de 15 kilomètres nous conduira à l'île du Martin-Pêcheur et sa guinguette. Face aux berges et îles suivantes, c'est l'architecture des maisons − anglo-normandes notamment − qui, comme d'habitude, retiendra notre attention.


Meeting − 10:00 am in the square des Combattants-d'Indochine, at the foot of the golden statue, metro Porte Dorée (Metro line 8).


We will be returning by RER A (every 10 minutes).


Bring a picnic snack or lunch and water. Plus good shoes and rain or snow gear, quand même !


If you wish to be informed of any eventual changes/cancellations, please
give Daniel your cell phone if you have one, home phone if not.


Prefer a shorter walk, about 8 km? You can take the RER A back to Paris from Joinville le Pont.


Les personnes qui le souhaitent pourront n'effectuer que la moitié du parcours avec un retour depuis Joinville-le-Pont (RER A).


Daniel - 09 50 56 65 26 - 01 45 90 65 26.
Mobile 06 99 20 70 79 (only the day of the walk).


See you on Wednesday with your usual good humour.


Daniel.

The Marne at Chevennières

Wednesday 15 December at Longpont and Monthléry

In the basilica at Longpont

Here is information about the December 15 walk which will be led by François Bechet:

 

It will be an easy 12 km. loop from St. Michel sur Orge, mostly through fields. We will visit the basilica of Longpont sur Orge and have a look on the Monthlery tower which is the remaining part of a castle built between the 11th and the 14th centuries.

Aller: We will take the "ELBA" RER C train leaving Champ de Mars at 9h43, St. Michel Notre Dame at 9h54, Gare d'Austerlitz at 9h58 and arriving at 10h28 to St Michel sur Orge. We will meet on the first car.

People who plan to come do not need to tell me. Bring a picnic lunch and dress warmly!

 

Bien amicalement,
François

The tower of Monthléry

Wednesday 8 December in the Chevreuse

This week Claude will be our fearless leader on what might prove to be snowy trails. Here is his proposal.

Here is a walk in the nature park of the Upper Valley of the Chevreuse, at the frontier of the departments of the Yvelines and the Essonne. Situated south of Chevreuse, the walk is 16km with a total climb of 330m. On our way, we'll pass the châteaux of Mauvières and Breteuil.

To get there, take the RER B train at 9.26 from Châtelet Les Halles to St Rémy lès Chevreuse (zone 5) arriving at 10.13.

To get back we'll take a return train from St Rémy some time between 3.30 and 4.00. There are trains every 15 minutes.

You'll want a picnic lunch, winter gear and your usual cheerful disposition.

Je propose donc une randonnée dans le parc de la haute vallée de Chevreuse, à la frontière des Yvelines et de l'Essonne. Situé au sud de Chevreuse, cet itinéraire de 16 km et 330 m de dénivelé, nous fera passer près des châteaux de Mauvières et de Breteuil.

Départ  par le RER B en direction de SAINT REMY LES CHEVREUSE  à 9h 26 à CHATELET LES HALLES pour arriver à 10h 13 à Saint Rémy.

Retour à partir de SAINT REMY LES CHEVREUSE entre 15h 30 et 16h avec un train toutes les 15 mn.

Casse-croute, tenue hivernale et bonne humeur indispensables.

Claude

claude.faure90@sfr.fr

01 30 92 04 95

06 84 14 55 35


========================================


Virginie has sent some pictures of this Wednesday walk. Don't you wish you were there?

Wednesday 1 December, end of a hundred-kilometre hike

The Loing at Moret

Dear hikers,

A 100 kilometre-hike !

Next Wednesday we'll end our walk along the GR2. We began a year ago at Le Plessis Chenêt and in several stages we've walked some hundred kilometres across the Seine et Marne. The banks of the Seine await us once more. We'll see two major tributaries, the Loing and the Yonne, as well as the canal barges at St Mammès.

C'est mercredi prochain, 1er décembre que nous terminerons notre parcours sur le GR2. Commencé il y a un an depuis le Plessis-Chênet, en quelques étapes c'est une centaine de kilomètres que nous avons effectué à travers la Seine-et-Marne. Les rives de la Seine seront encore au rendez-vous cette semaine. Nous rencontrerons également les confluents du Loing et de l'Yonne. La vue sur les péniches à Saint-Mammès et ses couleurs d'automne retiendra particulièrement notre attention.

Our walk will take us from Champagne sur Seine to La Grande Paroisse, about 12 km. As an option, we can continue to Montereau Fault Yonne for a walk of 21 km. This last part has not been thoroughly checked out, so we may be fairly late getting back to Paris.

To get there we'll meet at the platform and take the 9.05 train from the Gare de Lyon headed for Montargis. We arrive in Melun at 9.31. There we change trains to catch the 9.36 train headed for Montereau, arriving at Champagne sur Seine (zone 6) at 10.00. Note that we have only five minutes between trains at Melun so we'll want to be fairly nimble getting from one to the other.

The return from La Grande Paroisse (zone 6) is either

• 14.35 — Paris 15.41 change at Melun
• 15.35 — Paris 16.41 change at Melun

The return from Montereau (zone 6) gives us three possibilities.

• 17.30 — Paris 18.43 change at Melun
• 18.10 — Paris 19.13 direct
• 18.10 — Paris 19.41 change at Melun

A six-zone Mobilis covers all this. For Parisians, separate one-way tickets are slightly cheaper. If you're coming from the suburbs, the Mobilis is a couple of euros cheaper and far more convenient.

Notre randonnée se situera entre Champagne-sur-Seine et La Grande-Paroisse. Distance : 12 kilomètres.

*Getting there*. Attention, we will change trains in Melun.
Nous ne disposons que de 5 minutes pour la correspondance. Il est
souhaitable de rester groupés et d'écouter les annonces.

* At *GARE DE LYON*, Take the train at *9:05* (direction Montargis).
Stop at MELUN 9:31.
* At MELUN (connection), Take the train 9:36 (direction Montereau)
arriving at CHAMPAGNE-SUR-SEINE at 10.00.
----
*Return.* -  La Grande-Paroisse 14:35 arriving at Paris 15:41
or 15:35 arriving at Paris 16:41. Changement à Melun pour ces deux trains.

--------------------------------------------------------

EXTENSION POSSIBLE DU PARCOURS POUR CEUX QUI VEULENT
Le parcours continuera jusqu'à Montereau-Fault-Yonne. Ainsi il sera de 21 kilomètres.
La reconnaissance de ce trajet n'a pas été entièrement effectuée. Prévoir une éventuelle rentrée tardive pour Paris.
Retour :
Montereau 17:30, Paris 18:43 (changement à Melun).
Montereau 18:10, Paris 19:13 (direct Paris).
Montereau 18:10, Paris 19:41 (changement à Melun).

---------------------------------------------------------

Purchase a one-way ticket as the return will be from a different station,
or, If you are coming from the suburbs into Paris... then
Champagne-sur-Seine, a ''Mobilis'' ticket for 6 zones is perhaps slightly
cheaper than purchasing separate tickets.

Meet. − Start of the quay at Gare-de-Lyon.
-
Bring a picnic lunch, water, good shoes and rain gear, just in case.
If you wish to be informed of any eventual changes or cancellations, please give Daniel or Virginie your cell phone if you have one, your home phone if not.

Daniel - 09 50 56 65 26 - 01 45 90 65 26.
Daniel mobile   06 99 20 70 79 (only the day of the walk).
Virginie mobile 06 89 96 29 96.

See you on Wednesday!

Alfred Sisley, at Moret station

Wednesday 24 November in the forêt de Rosny

Randonnée d'automne à travers la forêt de Rosny

 

Dear Hikers,

This week, Claude will lead us on a lovely 18 km hike (430 m. altitude difference) in the Forêt de Rosny which is out past Mantes-la-Jolie in the department of the Yvelines.  This hike has been postponed twice so we're crossing our fingers that the SNCF will NOT decide to strike again. Here is his information.

Ce domaine forestier, le plus important à l'ouest de l'Ile-de-France faisait initialement partie du château de Rosny-sur-Seine qui appartenait à Sully ministre du roi Henri IV.  La forêt de Rosny abrite également quelques curiosités touristiques comme  un arbre remarquable vieux de 300 ans, le " chêne Mademoiselle " d'une circonférence de 4,20 mètres, les vestiges du château des Beurons, construit en 1615 par Simon Letellier, conseiller et médecin du roi Louis XIII, à la place d'un petit corps de logis, ancien rendez-vous de chasse.

This forest, the most important in the western Ile-de-France, formerly belonged  to the château of Rosny-sur-Seine which was owned by Sully, minister to King Henry IV. There are a couple of noteworthy attractions in the forest: a 300 year old oak tree with a 4,20 meter circumference and the vestiges of a chateau, Les Beurons, built for Simon Letellier, counselor and doctor for Louis XIII. 

 

Départ: PARIS gare St Lazare à 9h 07, SNCF train 51001, direction Evreux, pour arriver à Mantes-la-Jolie (zone 6) à 9h39 où je vous attendrai. (where Claude will await us) Merci de sortir rapidement du train pour aller prendre  le bus TAM ligne R2 à 9h47 en direction de Rosny-sur-Seine. (utilisation du billet Mobilis ou d'un ticket de métro) Please leave the train and station quickly in order not to miss the bus which will take us from Mantes to Rosny.

Return: Retour à partir de Magnanville par le bus TAM ligne I en direction de la gare de Mantes-la-Jolie, puis train pour Paris. Une bonne allure de marche doit permettre de prendre le train de 17h08 qui arrive 17h40 à Paris St Lazare. We will walk at a lively pace so as to be able to catch the bus at Magnanville and then the 17.08 train for Paris.

Le parcours fait 18 km de long avec un dénivelé positif de 430 m. Par ces temps humides de bonnes chaussures de randonnée sont indispensables.

 

Si vous avez besoin d’autres renseignements ou de contacter Claude le jour de la randonnée, voici ses coordonnées.

claude.faure90@sfr.fr

01 30 92 04 95

06 84 14 55 35

Wednesday 17 November in the forest of Fontainebleau

Next week, November 17, we will walk in the beautiful Forêt de Fontainebleau with François Bechet. Our usual intrepid leader, Ellen Vivet, is recuperating from foot surgery so François has generously offered to lead us through this beautiful and unique forest.

The train leaves the Gare de Lyon at 10:05, destination Montargis, arriving at Fontainebleau-Avon at 10:40.Return trains are twice an hour. We will meet at the end of the quai around 9:45 and then get on the last car going out of the station. In recent months the trains bound for Montargis leave from the Salle . Be sure to look at the Departures board. The two departure areas are color coded, blue and yellow.

Sturdy hiking shoes are essential. Be prepared for rain and mud.  Hiking poles might come in handy. Bring a picnic lunch as usual. Thermos season has begun!

If you need to contact François for any reason, his cell phone number is 06 14 14 52 00.

See you on Wednesday! 

Wednesday 10 November, a new twist on the vallée de Chevreuse

On Wednesday 10 November, Bob Levy will lead a hike through the valley formed by the river Yvette, beginning in Lozère. The hike's final 5 km include leaving the river for a climb through the lovely forest of Gif sur Yvette, with a scenic descent into the town of St Rémy lès Chevreuse. There we'll take the RER B and return to Paris.  

Many of you have walked in this area, walks which included the Madeleine château at Chevreuse. The château is not included in this hike.  In fact the hike proposed covers a part of the region which you have likely not walked. It is quite diverse; it weaves through villages (Lozère, Orsay, Bures, and Gif) before climbing to the forest. If we are lucky, we may catch the final autumn golds, both along the river and especially through the forest.

The entire length of the hike is approximately 14 km.  For those of you who want a shorter walk, there will be optional returns from the towns mentioned above. The walk parallels the RER B, which runs every 15 or 20 minutes during the day.

We will take the 9:26 RER B train PLAN from Châtelet Les Halles, destination St Rémy lès Chevreuse. We will ride in the last car going out. The same train can be taken at St Michel Notre Dame at 9:28.  As it proceeds south through Paris it stops at Luxembourg, Port Royale, Denfert, and Cité Universitaire.  Your outbound ticket should be to Lozère, though a round-trip ticket to St Rémy costs scarcely more and will save you time at the end of the walk.

Picnic lunches, hiking boots, and water-repellent clothing are, of course, in order.

Bob Levy

Walk Wednesday 3 November in the Bois de Vincennes

Lake Daumesnil in the bois de Vincennes

Led by Daniel and Jean

Come join us for a 3.5-hour walk that will take us to the four lakes in the Bois de Vincennes, with a stop for a snack at the gazebo then a lunch in an old cartridge factory which now houses several theaters. Lunch time at 1 pm.

With your snack and lunch you can bring water. Taken in moderation it doesn't hurt anybody.

The walk will be led by Daniel & Jean LOL and could be flexible according to the weather or whatever else. Shorter distances are possible.

Meeting − 10:00 am in the square des Combattants-d'Indochine, at the foot of the golden statue, metro Porte Dorée (Metro line 8). We will also be returning by metro.

You can bring your good humour ;  if not... chocolate, cake, sweets, coffee, pets, girl(boy)friend, backpack, only if you like.

It is also a good idea if you give Daniel your cell phone number, just in case…

    daniel.perot@free.fr
    Tel. 09 50 56 65 26 - 01 45 90 65 26.
    Mobile (only the day of the walk) 06 99 20 70 79.

Wednesday 27 October, a close-to-town walk at St Cloud and Ville d'Avray

Hello again,

 

Once again, we will work around the strike and start our walk at a Metro stop. This time we will  meet at the end of Metro line 10, Pont de St. Cloud at 10:00 where Mary Lynne and Prudence will await you outside the Societé Génerale.  We will cross the Seine and enter the Parc de St. Cloud where we will pass the Grande Cascade, the Jardin de Trocadero, La Ferme du Picquer and the Parcours de la Brosse. From there we will head to the ponds in Ville d'Avray and the Bois de Fausses Reponses. 

After our picnic lunch we'll have two options, either leading to the Gare de Vaucresson or to the Gare de Sevres Rive Gauche so don't buy your return ticket in advance. The foliage is beginning to be colorful although it isn't yet at its peak.

 

Claude's walk in the Foret de Rosny, originally scheduled for tomorrow, is postponed until next week in the hopes that the trains will be back to normal.

 

See you tomorrow!

Dear Hikers,

This week, Claude will lead us on a lovely 18 km hike (430 m. altitude difference) in the Forêt de Rosny which is out past Mantes-la-Jolie in the department of the Yvelines.  Here is his information.

Ce domaine forestier, le plus important à l'ouest de l'Ile-de-France faisait initialement partie du château de Rosny-sur-Seine qui appartenait à Sully ministre du roi Henri IV.  La forêt de Rosny abrite également quelques curiosités touristiques comme  un arbre remarquable vieux de 300 ans, le " chêne Mademoiselle " d'une circonférence de 4,20 mètres, les vestiges du château des Beurons, construit en 1615 par Simon Letellier, conseiller et médecin du roi Louis XIII, à la place d'un petit corps de logis, ancien rendez-vous de chasse.

This forest, the most important in the western Ile-de-France, formerly belonged  to the château of Rosny-sur-Seine which was owned by Sully, minister to King Henry IV. There are a couple of noteworthy attractions in the forest: a 300 year old oak tree with a 4,20 meter circumference and the vestiges of chateau, Les Beurons, built for Simon Letellier, counselor and doctor for Louis XIII.

Départ: PARIS gare St Lazare à 9h 07, SNCF train 51001, direction Evreux, pour arriver à Mantes-la-Jolie à 9h 39 où je vous attendrai. (where Claude will await us) Merci de sortir rapidement du train pour aller prendre  le bus TAM ligne R2 à 9h 47 en direction de Rosny-sur-Seine. Please leave the train and station quickly in order not to miss the bus which will take us from Mantes to Rosny.

Return: Retour à partir de Magnanville par le bus TAM ligne I en dirction de la gare de Mantes-la-Jolie, puis train pour Paris. Return will be by a different bus to the Mantes-la-Jolie station. Une bonne allure de marche doit permettre de prendre le train de 17h 08 qui arrive 17h 40 à Paris St Lazare. We will walk at a lively pace so as to be able to catch the 17:08 train for Paris.

Le parcours fait 18 km de long avec un dénivelé positif de 430 m. Par ces temps humides de bonnes chaussures de randonnée sont indispensables.

Comme il y a toujours la possibilié de grêve de trains, svp, consultez vos corriels mardi soir et mercredi matin pour savoir s'il y a un changement de programme ou annulation. De plus, il sera prudent d'informer Claude de votre intention de participer à cette marche et de lui laisser votre numero de portable. With the possibility of a continued rail strike, please consult your emails Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning to know if there has been a change of plans or a cancellation. It would be prudent to tell Claude of your intention to come, leaving him your cell phone number.

claude.faure90@sfr.fr

01 30 92 04 95

06 84 14 55 35

Sunday 31 October from Dourdan to Breuillet

The message for next Wednesday's walk will be sent out this weekend, but meanwhile here is a message from Bob Levy who invites you to join a hike which he will lead in the Essonne from Dourdan to Breuillet on Sunday, October 31.  Here is his info: 

 

I am recommending we take the RER C to Dourdan from St Michel Notre Dame at 8:45 on the 31st as the clocks will be changed the night before and our bodies will think it's 9:45.  Also, the change of clocks means it gets dark earlier than we've become accustomed to.  Return C trains run every 30 minutes.

We take the RER to Dourdan, then walk back along the GR1 in the direction from which we came.  We pass through the villages of Sermaise and Saint Chéron, each of which has a gare for those who want a shorter hike.  Also through smaller farming communities, Marchais, Le Mesnil, and Le Bergerie. The Autumn reds and golds should be at their finest. The official hike will end at Breuillet for a total distance of 15-16 km.

Dourdan itself is a photographer's dream, with its church of Saint Germain d'Auxerre, its 13th century castle, and a 19th century semi-covered market hall.  From Dourdan a gentle climb and descent through forest and field, surrounded by, or just bordering, forest color.  The final leg takes us along the banks of the River Orge (L'Orge) to Breuillet.

I recommend hiking boots (not running shoes or sneakers) as there is one brief descent for which you will glad to have them.

If there is any more information (particularly re: transport) you will be informed. If you are interested in signing up and getting more details, please contact Bob Levy at levybob@sbcglobal.net

 

Bob Levy

Wednesday 20 October from Moulin Galant to Ballancourt

The paper factory on the Essonne at Echarcon

Dear hikers,

 

Since it seems that there are no trains going to Moulin Galant tomorrow, I've decided to put Plan B into action and to take a tour of "Boulogne des Années Trente." There is a concentration of very interesting 1930's buildings, both private and public mostly in the northeast section of Boulogne, designed by Corbusier and Mallet-Stevens among others. On our way we will pass through the Jardin des Poetes and the Jardins des Serres d'Auteuil. At the end of the walk, those who wish can visit the 1930's Museum, le Musée des Années Trente. 

 

We will meet at 10:00 at the outside the metro stop "Porte d'Auteuil", line 10, sortie number 1, towards Rolland Garros and the Parc des Princes.

 

We will return from metro stop Marcel Sembat, line 9.

 

Bring a picnic lunch and be prepared for rain.

 

A demain!!

Mary Lynne


Dear Hikers,

On Wednesday, October 20, Mary Lynne will lead us on a walk along the Essonne River from Moulin Galant to Ballancourt, about 14 km on mostly flat terrain. Along this section of the Essonne there are many lakes and marshes with flora and fauna that the Department of the Essonne is trying to preserve. In fact, these wetlands are some of the best preserved in all of the Ile de France.  

Considering that there is a possibility that the rail strike will be prolonged until next Wednesday and that there is only one train per hour going to our destination, we have prepared a Plan B which would be accessible by the Metro. So it’s probably best to wait until Tuesday to purchase your tickets and check your in-boxes for information about an eventual change of plans.

Departure: RER D4, train BIPE, direction Malesherbes, leaving Chatelet les Halles at 9:37 and Gare de Lyon at 9:41, arriving at Moulin Galant, zone 5, at 10:25. A Mobilis ticket is usually less expensive than two one-way tickets for those living outside of Paris. We’ll meet downstairs on the quai so as to be able to get on the last car. Mary Lynne will board at the Gare de Lyon.

Our return will be from Ballancourt, zone 6, at 15:47, or at 16:47 for those who chose to do an extension to see the Chateau de la Saussay.

Bring the usual picnic lunch, rain protection, sturdy waterproof shoes and good humour. It is a good idea if you give Mary Lynne your cell phone number, just in case…

mlfich@yahoo.com

06 70 88 18 59

Scotland on Essonne: highland cows at Vert le Petit

Wednesday 13 October from Tavery to Meriel

The church at Taverny Taverny to Meriel via the Foret de Montmorency This week, Bob Levy will lead our hike in the Val D'Oise. For those who do the whole hike it is 15 km. but there are two "bailout" possibilites as described below. Here is Bob's  info.

For Wednesday I propose the following:

Meet at gare du Nord at 9:00 AM with tickets already purchased for the 9:13 SNCF train to Taverny (zone 4).  I think that the 4 letter designator is POVA. its final destination is Valmondois or Persan Beaumont (info on websites differs).

It is a 36 minute train trip to Taverny.

Hike from Taverny along the GR1 through the forêt de Montmorency. The beginning is a gentle uphill of 2 km. Following that it is level and downhill along the aptly named 'Route de Paradis'.  The IGN map number is 2313 OT.

Those who want the shortest hike (11 km) can leave the trail at Frepillon.  I will give them a map to the gare.  Trains from Frépillon are at 22 and 52 minutes past the hour and return to gare du Nord in 45 minutes.

Those who wish to leave at Méry sur Oise (12.5 km) will also receive a map to the gare de Méry.  Trains for Paris leave at 19 and 49 minutes after the hour. Again about 45 minutes to Paris.

Those who go all the way to Mériel (15 km) will be rewarded by a hike along the Oise as well as along the lakes of the parc de Méry.  Trains from Mériel leave at 15 and 45 minutes after the hour for a 50 minute ride to Paris. Walkers should not purchase round trip tickets in the morning.  Instead, purchase a return ticket at Frépillon, Méry, or Mériel (all in zone 5). There are parts of the walk - early sections in the forest of Montmorency - which are very muddy and require stepping over a number of fallen trees.  I will design a work-around / walk-around alternative which might add .5 km to the hike.

Due to the possibility that the train strike will continue past Tuesday, it is advisable that you let me know that you are coming and give me your cell so that I can inform you of a cancellation or change of train time.

Thanks and I'll see you on Wednesday!

levybob@sbcglobal.net Bob' cell number is 06 43 45 58 33 Barbara's number is 06 43 45 59 00