26 July 2014

July 30 hike

Dear Walkers,
Our hike for July 30 will be led by Dominique Raveau. Here is her information. I hope you appreciate the poem at the end. It would seem that Longfellow appreciated the Chevreuse Valley as much as we do today.
For next Wednesday I propose a 15 km walk in south of Paris, along the river Yvette and through Aigrefoin Wood. We will walk from Orsay-Ville University campus to Courcelle. In Gif-sur-Yvette we will pass by the tombstone of the artist Fernand Léger, one of the founders of Cubist painting.There's possibility to bail out in Gif before climbing the wood and having our picnic there. The walk along the river is on flat ground but we'll have short and rather steep climbing and descent.

To get there take RER B train PUKE from CHATELET LES HALLES at 9:02
Direction ST REMY LES CHEVREUSE, arrives in ORSAY-VILLE AT 9:51, zone 5.
I will get on the first car of the same train at Bourg la Reine.
Return will be from COURCELLE SUR YVETTE, zone 5, a train to Paris every 20 min on the same line.
Bring some snacks, bananas, picnic lunches and lots of water and don't forget your walking sticks.
See you on Wednesday
Dominique 
06 33 23 07 31

In the meantime I hope you will enjoy these 19th century verses:

To The River Yvette
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

O lovely river of Yvette!
O darling river! like a bride,
Some dimpled, bashful, fair Lisette,
Thou goest to wed the Orge's tide.

The valley of Chevreuse in vain
Would hold thee in its fond embrace;
Thou glidest from its arms again,
And hurriest on with swifter pace.
Thou wilt not stay; with restless feet,
Pursuing still thine onward flight,
Thou goest as one in haste to meet
Her sole desire, her heart's delight.
O lovely river of Yvette!
O darling stream! on balanced wings
The wood-birds sang the chansonnette
That here a wandering poet sings.

19 July 2014

July 23 hike


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Judy Choat will lead our hike next Wednesday, July 23.  Here is her information:

Dear Fellow Walkers , 

On we go ! This week's walk of 19 km  is mainly along the very pretty River Yerres (which we will cross several times sometimes on very old bridges ) passing through the Parc Caillebotte  where the Impressionist painter lived and painted some of his most well known pictures . We will also pass the Villa Falbala where we can peek through the fence and see the work of sculptor and visual artist Jean Dubuffet which you may or may not like but I am sure you will have an opinion! 
The walk is almost all completely flat but towards the end there are a couple of hills, one of which involves a fairly long flight of steps.
Don't forget it is supposed to be summer so if necessary bring sun block and a hat and plenty of water to drink . On the other hand if the water is forecast to come from the sky rather than your water bottle bring a waterproof jacket . Wear sturdy shoes or boots and bring a picnic lunch too

There are two options to leave the hike early :

1) After 8km (approx) at Brunoy which will be before lunch we will pass within 0.5km of the station - a map will be provided

2) After 12km ( approx ) at Boussy St Antoine after lunch we will pass within 0.75km of the station - a map will be provided

TRAVEL

Take RER D train ZACO direction Melun from Gare du Nord at 9.27 or Chatelet les Halles at 9.31 or Gare de Lyon 9.35 as far as Montgeron Crosne ( zone 4) arriving at 9.55 I will  join the train at Gare de Lyon . If you feel like good conversation and company you could travel in the rear carriage with everyone else. If you are feeling antisocial sit elsewhere!

Return trains run every 15 minutes or so from Combs La Ville Quincy (zone 5) . I imagine we will finish around 3.30 - 4.00 pm

See you Wednesday.
Judy

Landline    01 30 80 01 34

Mobile      06 79 48 38 81

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