29 January 2011

Wednesday 2 February, Verrières and the Bièvre


Dear Hikers,
 
Next Wednesday, Dominique Raveau will be our leader. Here is her information:

Next Wednesday February 2, we will leave the asphalt of Paris and return to the countryside in the south of the capital. We will hike about 16 km passing through the town of Chatenay-Malabry, where we will enter le Bois de Verrières. Louis XIII and Louis XIV both enjoyed hunting there. The summit is at 173m with some nice views. Then we'll follow the Vallée de la Bievre from l'Etang des Damoiseaux to the town of Massy. At the beginning of the walk we will visit le Musée de Bonsaï, an exceptional museum where are displayed miniature trees aged from 6 to 300 years. Entry is free but it is forbidden to take photographs.

Getting there : 
Take RER B SVIC Direction ROBINSON 
Chatelet-les-Halles at 09:05, Denfert Rocherau at 09:13   
Arrival in Robinson at 09:31  Zone 3 
 
We will meet outside of the gare de Robinson (Terminus line B2); exit left (Sortie Avenue de la Gare) where I will be waiting for you.

Bring a picnic lunch, some water, tea and rain gear (good humour welcome). And camera for birdwatching.

Return :

Departure from GARE DE MASSY PALAISEAU, Massy (zone 4)
Line RER B  Direction PARIS  at  15:53, 16:04, 16:08, 16:19

Line RER C  Direction VERSAILLES CHANTIERS at 15:51, 16:21, 16:51
See you on Wednesday!

My phone numbers :
01 47 02 90 48

23 January 2011

Wednesday 26 January along the Seine in Paris

The Seine viewed from the Pont Royal


Hello All,

Next Wednesday 26 January  I plan to walk with you along the Seine (hoping that the water level is not going up). If you are ready to walk for about three hours - even if the weather is not the best - then please come and meet me in the RER C station  Javel, which is at the Pont Mirabeau in the 15th. You can also reach this station by Metro line 10, station Javel Andre Citroën. I will wait for you from 9.45 in the RER station JAVEL. We will start walking at 10.00.



We expect to reach Gare d'Austerlitz at about 13.00, traversing three Parcs: Jardins du Trocadero, Jardin des Tuileries and
Jardin des Plantes.



Remember: good shoes, appropriate clothing, water and ready to meet some fellow expats.


'Smiles'


Martina David-Ault 


PS Here are couple of pictures from the walk. See what she means by "appropriate clothing"?




16 January 2011

Wednesday 19 January to the mouth of the Bièvre

An idyllic scene on the banks of the Bièvre in Paris

Dear Hikers,
This Wednesday, January 19, we will avoid the muddy conditions out in the country by hiking in the city. Our itinerary will take us along the fourth and final section the Bièvre River trail, about 12 km., from Arcueil/Cachan through Gentilly, into Paris 13th at the Poterne des Peupliers, following its curving path to the Gare d’Austerlitz where it flows into the Seine. This hike should take about 4 hours, maybe more, depending on the number of stops we make along the way. The river will be underground for the whole itinerary with concrete slabs indicating its path in certain places in the suburbs.  In Paris, there are a few markers but we will definitely need an eagle eye to find them and our imaginations to visualize the river and the industries along its banks before it was canalized and covered between 1864 and 1912.
Getting there:  We will meet at the RER B Arcueil/Cachan station at 10:00.  Take the RER B, train Kroldirection Massy Palaiseau, which leaves Chatelet les Halles at 9:44; St Michel - Notre Dame at 9:46; and Denfert Rochereau at 9:52.
Return:  From the Gare d’Austerlitz. There are several places along the way where it will be possible to leave the group early.
Bring the usual picnic lunch and rain/snow gear.  If we have torrential rain or a blizzard, there are cafés in the 13th where we could stop for lunch.
See you on Wednesday!
Mary Lynne
mlfich@yahoo.com   01 4741 98 20     06 70 88 18 59

08 January 2011

Wednesday 12 January at Fontainebleau



This week Jean-Louis Narjoux will lead us on a lovely itinerary in the Foret de Fontainebleau. Here is his information.
I propose a great walk to the Rocher Cassepot at Fontainebleau on Wednesday 12 January. It will be about 15 km in hilly terrain, a bit demanding but one of the most beautiful walks in the forest. It will take about five hours for "normal" walkers.
Getting there:
At the gare de Lyon, take the 10.05 train headed for Fontainebleau and Montargis. We'll meet at the near end of the platform and get into the rearmost wagon of the train.
Coming back:
There is a return train every hour at about half past the hour, from 15.31 to 19.31. We are unlikely to make the 15.31 but should be OK for the 16.31, returning to Paris gare de Lyon at 18.11.
Wear walking boots and bring the usual picnic.
Je vous propose une belle promenade au rocher Cassepot à Fontainebleau le Mercredi 12 janvier 2011.

15 km environ, 
itinéraire accidenté, un peu sportif mais vraiment un des plus beaux de la forêt. Durée prévue environ 5h00 pour des marcheurs "normaux" + arret pique-nique.
Depart :
Nous allons prendre le train à 10:05 à la gare de Lyon,  direction Montargis. RV au bout du quai pour ensuite monter dans le premier wagon à partir du quai.
Retour :
Pour le retour il y a un train toutes les heures à qqh31 de 15h31 à 19h31. Pour le train de 15h31 ce sera sans doute un peu juste, mais 16h31 doit être bon (retour à Paris gare de Lyon 18h11).
Prévoir chaussures + pic-nic as usual.
Jean-Louis Narjoux

04 January 2011

Wednesday 5 January in Carnelle Forest

The Pierre Turquaise in the forêt de Carnelle
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Here's wishing you a year of good health and
invigorating hikes. We'll start off the year in the Foret de Carnelle with
Daniel Perot. Here is his information.

This week we will walk in the Forêt de Carnelle.

We'll take the train POMA from the gare du Nord (surface) at 9:36, arriving at Presles-Courcelles (zone 5) at 10:16. (Direction Persan-Beaumont, via Montsoult-Maffliers). We will meet at the end of the quay and board the last car (i.e. the one closest to our meeting point).

Return from Gare de Viarmes (also zone 5) on another line. Get a single ticket.
 15:13 / Paris 15:57.
 15:58 / Paris 16:42.
 16:57 / Paris 17:41.

The walk will cover from 14 to 16 kilometers depending on hikers and weather. On the menu: la Pierre Turquaise (megalith), la Route Forestière du Bois Belle-Fille leading to l'Etang Bleu where we will have our picnic. Be prepared for a couple of hills and cold weather: cold is excellent for mud, it's frozen, but not for toes and noses. So bundle up! "La forêt de Carnelle se mérite!"

Looking forward to seeing you and wishing you a HAPPY NEW YEAR

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