Hike for January 28

Dear Hikers,

We have only one option this week, but a chance to leave the walk after 13 km. Judy will be our leader. Here is her information, generously peppered with her British humour. Remember, you need personal accident and liability insurance to participate in our walks.

We will head West to the countryside and pretty villages of the Yvelines. We will walk 21.5km on fairly level paths with a bail out option after about 13km. If you choose the shorter option you will have to navigate the last 1.5km yourselves with the aid of a map which I will provide .

We will see the chimney pots of one chateau and have a good view of two others, walk through the Foret des Quatre Piliers and have lunch at the edge of an attractive pond ( sitting on logs so bring something to sit on ) We will have completed about half the distance and it will be about 1pm .

If you prefer mud to tarmac you will be disappointed as I have incorporated some quiet lanes with a good surface to minimise the slipping and sliding; however, fear not, you will find enough gloopy mud to stick to your boots !

If you are shy about going to the toilet in the middle of open fields then don't drink too much at breakfast time as there won't be any tree cover for about 45 minutes . If you don't care, well then, the world is your oyster !!

Bring lunch, a drink, warm and waterproof clothing and wear suitable footwear; otherwise be hungry, thirsty, cold, wet, and as for the state of your feet, well words fail me !

Travel Arrangements:

I WILL DRIVE so will meet you at the station of Montfort L'Amaury/ Mere

All the stations (long and short walk) are in zone 5 - if you live in zone 1-2 it might be VERY slightly cheaper to buy two single tickets , however a Mobilis gives you the flexibility to choose longer or shorter at the last minute - up to you . However if you live outside of the centre of Paris then a Mobilis would be the best choice .

Take train DAPO on line N from Gare de Montparnasse at 8.58 arriving Montfort l'Amaury at 9.36 . This train also passes through Versailles Chantiers at 9.11 

Return journey :

The trains are hourly.

If you do the shorter walk the trains are at 15 minutes past the hour from Orgerus - Behoust and the journey to Montparnasse takes 47 minutes

If you do the longer walk the trains are at 20 minutes past the hour from Garancieres - La Queue les Yvelines and the journey to Montparnasse takes 42 minutes . If we walk at a good pace we may make the 15.20, but realistically, it is  possible we may have to settle for the 16.20 !

See you Wednesday.

Judy

 Landline    01 30 80 01 34

Mobile      06 79 48 38 81

Two hikes for January 21

On Jan. 21 we have two options, an 18 km hike with Francois Bechet in the Oise department, north of Paris, from Viarmes to Orry-la-Ville, and a three hour hike with Martina in the Parc de St. Cloud and along the Seine. 

Here is Francois' information. 

Nous irons de la gare de Viarmes à celle de Orry-la-ville Coye à travers bois et champs. La distance est d’environ 18 Kms. Le trajet comporte peu de déclivités sauf dans les derniers Kms qui peuvent être évités par un raccourci. Il risque d’y avoir des passages boueux.

Aller:  prendre à la Gare du Nord le train pour Viarmes (direction Luzarches) à 8h55,arrivée à 9h33.

Retour: par Orry-la-ville où il y a un train tous les quarts d’heure.

Orry-la-Ville étant situé hors de la région Ile de France il n’est possible d’acheter de mobilis.

Since Orry la Ville is situated outside the region of Il de France, it will be impossible to use a Mobilis ticket.

Bring the usual picnic lunch and remember warm clothes and waterproof shoes. There might be MUD! The terrain is relatively flat except for the last few kms.

See you on Wednesday!

_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_

Here is Martina's information:

Hello walkers and Happy New Year - despite ….

If you are up for a ‘short’ walk of three hours, then please come on 

Wednesday January 21 to the end station of Metro 10 in Boulogne-Pont de St. Cloud. 

Take the exit to the left going back from the last Metro car.  On the street level at the Brasserie Jean-Baptiste I will wait for you from 9.45 on to start walking at 10.00.

We will pass through the park de St. Cloud (somewhat changed from the picture above) and then continue on the side of Issy-les-Moulineaux until we reach the Metro station Javel Andre Citroen at 13.00.

As always, dress appropriately, wear good walking shoes and have water to drink.

Not necessary to let me know, just come in time when we start our ‘hike’. 

Stay well, ‘keep calm and carry/walk on’

Martina David-Ault 

Hike for January 14

Hello Walkers,

Next Wednesday, 14 January, Dominique Raveau will lead us from the very edge of Paris on a 14 km walk along the Canal de l'Ourcq. This portion of the Canal covers industrial and commercial activities in the beginning; then becomes more and more agreeable as it heads out into the country. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_de_l%27Ourcq

We will pass near Les Grands Moulins de Pantin, the 19th century industrial heritage, then along the banks to the Parc de la Bergère in Bobigny where we will have a picnic. The walk will finish with a visit of the Parc de Sevran where you can see amongst the trees a lot of remains of the National Gunpowder Factory's activities (operated from 1873 to 1973)..

 

Meeting point: 10.00 Fontaine aux Lions, outside of Metro line 5
Direction Bobigny P. Picasso, exit Porte de Pantin

Return will be from the station Vert Galant (zone 4) RER B at 16:03 or 16:18 or 16:30 

Buy in advance a one way ticket (Vert Galant to Paris, zone 4) or have a credit-card with you since it's the only way to buy a ticket at the RER Station.
  

It's possible to bail out in Bobigny, Metro line 5 or 2 km later in Bondy, RER E, a train every 15 min. zone 3.
RER E, direction Haussmann Saint Lazare, correspondence with RER B Gare du Nord.

Bring your rain gear, picnic lunch and water. I must draw your attention that there's not much opportunity for "technical stops" on the first part of the walk before the Parc de la Bergère.

(If you have any questions about the hike please contact Dominique on her cell phone 06 33 23 07 31. Remember all hikers need personal accident and liability insurance.)

Looking forward to a sunny Wednesday! 

All the best,
Dominique

Hike for January 7, 2015

Welcome to the New Year with Ile de France Walkfriends! We will start 2015 with a hike in one of our all-time favorite places, the Forêt de Fontainebleau and Laurence will be our leader. Her information is below. There will be another mailing soon about a proposal from Daniel Perot and news of our restaurant lunch together, but it is more urgent that I get the information about Wednesday's walk to you now.

The hike will start from Bois le Roi and will end in Fontainebleau-Avon. It should be about 14km, if I don’t miss any turns which is unlikely!

There is rain in the forecast so I have changed the route to avoid very slippery areas; however, there are quite a few leaves on the ground everywhere so wear good footwear and you may want to bring a pole/staff. 

GETTING THERE:

-Take train Gamu from Gare de Lyon direction Montargis at 9.19, arriving at Bois le Roi at 9.50, Zone 5 (the train stops at Melun. Departure should be from Hall 1, but check on arrival.)

I will meet you at Gare de Lyon, we will sit in the last car as usual.

-Return trains from Fontainebleau-Avon at 15.30 (arr:16.11) - 16.00 (arr:16.41) - 16:30(arr:17.15)

There is a brasserie next to the train station.

If you do not have a "Passe Navigo", or benefit from any discounted fares, buy a "Mobilis 5 zones" (16.10€)

Bring a snack & lunch.

See you on Wednesday! 

Happy New Year to all of you.

Laurence

ps: Sorry, but I don't have a cell phone.

Hike for December 17

Next Wednesday, Marcel Kohl will wrap up our 2014 walks with a hike along the Seine to the Bois de St. Cucufa, which many of you might not know, but which is a little gem of a forest where one can still spot the occasional deer. Here is Marcel's info:

Hello Everybody,

 

Mercredi prochain, 17 décembre, la randonnée sera sous le signe de Saint-Cucufa.

Nous partirons de la gare de Rueil-Malmaison; nous longerons la Seine, et monterons vers la forêt de la Malmaison, où nous pique-niquerons dans un kiosque protégé de la pluie, en face de l’étang de St Cucufa.

Nous reviendrons vers la gare de Rueil, en essayant de voir le château de Joséphine.

La balade sera à une allure tranquille, mais il y a quand même une quinzaine de kms à avaler, et une(seule) longue pente

Pour aller à la gare de Rueil, on peut prendre le RER A ZEBU, direction St Germain enLaye

Gare de Lyon: 9h58

La Défense : 10h12

RUEIL: 10H19  Sortie à l’avant, avenue de Colmar

 

That will be your last chance this year to walk and talk with this group.

 

Amicalement

 

Marcel

0781547519

Hike for December 10

Bonjour à TOUS,

Mercredi, le 10 décembre 2014, nous marcherons

(environ 4 km / heure) dans les Jardins et le Grand Parc 

du Château de Versailles.

Le parcours proposé sera environ 15 km, autrement dit 4 heures.

Le pic-nique aura lieu dans le beau restaurent "La Flottille"

au bord du Grand Canal du Parc (j'ai demandé une autorisation).

Aller:

A la gare Paris-Montparnasse prendre le train DAPO

direction Dreux à 9:58 et descendre à Versailles-Chantiers

(arrivée à 10:10).

Je vous attendrai à la gare Versailles-Chantiers.

Retour:

De Versailles il y a un grand nombre de trains pour Paris.

Nous aurons besoin des habits chauds et une protection contre

la pluie (?), de l'eau à boire et un pic-nique.

Dans l'attente de vous voir mercredi prochain,

Krystyna 

06 03 53 41 66

two hikes for December 3

We are lucky to have two options for next Wednesday, with our two Daniels.

1.) 19 km with Daniel Robinot and 2.) 10 km with Daniel Perot.

1.) This week, I propose to you a walk between forest, charming villages and countryside near Mantes la Jolie. The distance will be around 19 km BUT, not very easy, ascents and descents permanently, 500m of elevation and sometimes slippery.
Bad news : no bail out possible and picnic "on the grass" (no nice place, sorry). Good news : there is a "bistrot" at the arrival !

So, you are stong and courageous, as I count on you and your usual good humor.

Getting there :

Start from Paris St Lazare at 9h07 (direct train via Poissy), arriving at Mantes la Jolie at 9h41
Leave the station on the side of Mantes la Ville and take the bus,  LINE K, which leaves at 9:46 on quai 22. You will need to do this quickly! 

Get off the bus at the stop BUCHELAY - MAIRIE where I will meet you at 10:01.
Tickets accepted ... All (Mobilis, Navigo subway ticket or sales unit).

The return to Paris will be on a direct train from Mantes la Jolie at 16:08, after the beer of course   ;-)

As usual, you will need a picnic lunch, water, or substitute and sturdy shoes.

See you soon.
Daniel
06.10.85.47.67

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2.)  

Program for our walk on December 3rd
Hikers, walkers and strollers are welcome.
----
Come join us for a 10-kilometer walk that will take us to 3 lakes in
the Bois de Vincennes, with a stop for lunch in an
old cartridge factory which now houses several theaters.
----
You will need a picnic, and water -- taken in moderation it
doesn't hurt anybody.
----
Your equipment: good clothes, good shoes; rain gear: maybe yes, maybe no.
The walk will be led by Daniel Pérot.
----
Meeting - 10:00 am at square des Combattants-d'Indochine at the
foot of the golden statue, métro Porte-Dorée (line 8). Sortie Parc zoologique.
We will be returning by métro Château-de-Vincennes or RER A Vincennes (zone 2).
------
You can bring your good humour ;  if not... chocolate, cake, sweets, coffee,
pets, girl/boy friend, backpack, cigarettes, flask of whisky or plum brandy are appreciated.
------
daniel.perot@free.fr
Landline  09 50 56 65 26.
Mobile (only the day of the walk) 06 51 22 35 16.