Wednesday 24 August

Next Wednesday 24 August, Claude will lead us on an easy 13 km hike along the Marne from Esbly to Lagny.

The highlight of this walk will be the Dhuys Sculpture Garden, a majestic and mysterious open air museum created by Jacques Servières from blocks of limestone, once part of an aqueduct that was destroyed during WWII.

You can check out this fascinating collection and the story of its creation at: http://www.jardindesculpture.net/cariboost1/crbst_2.html

Here is Claude's info.

Cette randonnée facile de 13 km nous conduira encore une fois au bord de l'eau, sur les bords de Marne entre Esbly et Lagny. En chemin nous pourrons admirer les sculptures monumentales, en pierre cette fois-ci, du jardin des sculptures de la Dhuys.

Avant de reprendre le train nous pourrons faire un petit tour dans la charmante petite ville de Lagny.

Départ : Gare de l'Est à 10h Train MICI en direction de Meaux arrivée à 10h01 à Esbly (zone 5).

Retour : Gare de Lagny à partir de 14 h avec un train toutes le 30 mn.

N'oubliez pas pique-nique, lunettes de soleil et parapluie, et votre bonne humeur habituelle.

Claude

01 30 92 04 95

06 84 14 55 35

Wednesday 17 August around Beynes

Countryside near Beynes

 

Dear Hikers,

 

On Wednesday, August 17th, Judy and Cecilia will lead a 15-16 km walk, hilly in places, in the Forêt Domaniale de Beynes and the surrounding countryside. We will walk along the banks of the river Mauldre and through pretty little villages: Saulx-Marchais and Cressay (with its historic "lavoir").

You will need stout walking shoes, a picnic lunch and water. Depending on the weather forecast, don't forget rain gear and/or suncream and a sunhat (part of the walk is through open countryside with no shade).

 

We will take the 9.43 train from the Gare Montparnasse (direction Mantes la Jolie) arriving at Beynes at 10.32. Some of you may find it convenient to join us at Versailles Chantiers at 10.08 or one of the other stations along the way (Saint-Cyr, Plaisir, etc). 

 

Return trains are every hour: 16.04 (probably too early), 17.04 (more likely -- arriving 17.49).

Since Zone 5 has merged with Zone 6, the Mobilis 5 zones now costs only 14€, the same as the return train fare to Beynes.

Mobile phone numbers: 

Judy 06 84 30 91 47

Cecilia 06 45 68 88 05.

 

See you on Wednesday!

 

The lavoir at Cressay

 

Wednesday 10 August: Louette and Chalouette

Saint Martin d'Etampes

 Our next hike on Wednesday, August 10 will be led by Claude Faure. Like last week, this walk will be in the Essonne, on another branch of the RER C. You will need a picnic lunch. Here is Claude's information:
 
Our walk, near Etampes, will take us along two small rivers, the Louette and the Chalouette, and through several small and charming villages. If you feel up to it, this 15km walk can be extended to 20km and take in the stream-side watercress beds.

Cette randonnée nous conduira près d'Etampes le long des petites rivières "La Louette" et "La Chalouette" qui traversent de sympatiques petits villages. Cette randonnée de 15 km peut, si vous êtes courageux, étendue à 20 km afin de découvrir les cressonières le long de ces ruisseaux.

To get there: Gare d'Austerlitz, RER C ELBA (direction Saint Martin d'Etampes) at 9:28, arriving at Saint Martin d'Etampes (zone 5) at 10:28. This train also leaves Bibliotèque François Mitterrand at 9:31.

Attention: Since RER C service is interrupted betweeen Invalides and Austerlitz until August 20, you will have to get to Austerlitz or Bibilotèque by bus or metro.  Etampes is now in zone 5 because zones 5 and 6 have been merged to make one zone.

Return: RER C at 15:47 or 16:13 for the 15km walk.

As usual, bring a picnic lunch and be in a good mood: good weather is forecast.

Comme d'habitude, pique-nique et bonne humeur le beau temps étant en principe prévu.

Claude
claude.faure90@sfr.fr

On the banks of the Chalouette

Wednesday 3 August at Dourdan

Dourdan: castle, church and market square

Dear Hikers,

Next Wednesday,  August 3rd, 2011, Krystyna will be our leader in the town of Dourdan and its forest. Here is her information.

You will discover Dourdan, the beautiful historic town and the forest "Forêt de l'Ouye" south of Dourdan. The first part of the walk will visit the city center of Dourdan with its royal XIIIth century castle, its market hall and marketplace as well as its church and the Hôtel-Dieu. Then you will tour the picturesque streets of Dourdan and stroll around its ramparts. 

We will picnic on the castle lawn, with coffee after for those who want it. Bring a picnic lunch as usual. In the afternoon we will tour the forest of Dourdan via the circuit of Ouye, 8 km. Visits to the Castle and the Abbey of Ouye as well as the circuits of "Buttes Blanches" and the ponds of the "Boiling Fountains" are planned for a subsequent hike as soon as I have time for them.

Departure:

At the RER C Gare d'Austerlitz  station take at 09:13 the RER C ELBA train,
direction DOURDAN, which arrives at Dourdan (zone 5) at 10:15. Please board the last car going out of the station. The train stops at Bibliothèque François Mitterrand station at 09:16.

Attention: Since the RER C service is interrupted betweeen Invalides and Austerlitz until August 20, you will have to reach Austerlitz or Bibilothèque via metro or bus.

Return:

From Dourdan at 16:00, to arrive at Austerlitz at 17:03.

Looking forward to seeing you all.

Krystyna
06 03 53 41 66
chocolat.blanc@yahoo.fr

The convent of Ouye

Wednesday 27 July in the forest of Carnelle

The Lac Bleu

On Wednesday July 27th,  Daniel will lead us in the Forêt de Carnelle. Here is his information:

We'll take the train POMA from the Gare du Nord (surface) at 9:36, arriving at Presles Courcelles (zone 5) at 10:17. (Direction Persan-Beaumont, via Montsoult-Maffliers). We will meet at the end of the platform and board the last car (i.e. the one closest to our meeting point). The platforms for the suburbs (banlieue) are on the far right part of the station. If you are unfamiliar with the Gare du Nord, it would be wise to give yourself extra time to navigate through the station.

Return from Gare de Viarmes (also zone 5) on another line. Get another single ticket.

 15:58 / Paris 16:42
 16:57 / Paris 17:41
 17:27 / Paris 18:11 

The walk will cover from 14 to 16 kilometers depending on the routes we choose together. Be prepared for a couple of hills. 

On the menu: la Pierre Turquaise (megalith), la route forestière du Bois Belle-Fille leading to l'Etang Bleu, where we shall need a solid picnic and water. On our way we can observe deer and llamas in their enclosure.

One more effort: the last upward slope is breathtaking, and not because the view. "La forêt de Carnelle se mérite!" Your reward: a brand new train should take us from Viarmes to Paris.

Looking forward to seeing you. Bring your smiles and sunshine will reward us.

Daniel

If you wish to be informed of eventual changes or 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

Wednesday 20 July at Rambouillet

 

Next Wednesday, Krystyna will lead us through the delightful Rambouillet Forest, formerly a favorite royal hunting ground, located about 44km southwest of Paris in the department of the Yvelines. Here is Krystyna's information:

On Wednesday 20 July we will go hiking in the forest of Rambouillet on former royal hunting roads. The walking will be on an easy level. We can go to the Rambouillet Animal Reserve where we can see birds of prey, deer, boar, etc.—if we agree to pay the ticket 9 or 12 €. Here is the website for the Espace Rambouillet.

http://www.onf.fr/espaceramb/sommaire/decouvrir

The duration of the stroll is 6 hours, the picnic included.

Departure:

At the train station Paris-Montparnasse take at 09.33 the train number 65477, direction Chartres, which will arrive at the Rambouillet station at 10.04. Please board the last car going out of the station.

It serves the station Versailles-Chantiers at 09.47. I will join you there in the last car.

Return:

From Rambouillet at 16.05, arriving at Paris-Montparnasse at 16.34.

I hope see you all on next Wednesday!

Krystyna

0603534166

Chocolat.blanc@yahoo.fr

Wednesday 13 July at Saâcy sur Marne

village church at Citry sur Marne

Dear Hikers,

Next Wednesday, 13 July, Jean-Louis Narjoux will lead us on the hillsides of the Marne River and around two towns in the northern part of the Seine et Marne department, east of Paris. This will be a new itinerary for Ile de France Walkers. Here is Jean-Louis' information: 

For July 13th I propose an 18-kilometer walk in the countryside around Méry and Saâcy on the Marne. Varied scenery, attractive but hilly, with some ups and downs. Count on about five hours walking, plus our noonday picnic.

Getting there: we'll meet at the Gare de l'Est and catch the 8.50 train ZIMO, headed for Château Thierry. We arrive at the station Nantueil-Saâcy (zone 6) at 9.47.

Coming back: we'll catch the return train at Nantueil-Saâcy, either at 16.19 to arrive in Paris at 17.08; or at 17.19 to arrive in Paris at 18.06.

Pour le 13 juillet je propose une rando de 18 km sur les coteaux de la Marne autour de Méry sur Marne et Saâcy sur Marne. Paysages variés, intéressants mais vallonnés, c’est-à-dire avec des montées et des descentes... Prévoir 5h de marche environ (hors pique-nique)

Rendez Vous : Gare de l'Est,  train "ZIMO", départ 08h50, en direction de Chateau-Thierry

pour NANTEUIL-SAâCY où nous arriverons à 09h37.

On peut viser un retour de NANTEUIL-SAâCY à 16h19 (17h08 gare de l'Est) ou 17h19 (18h08 gare de l'Est).

You will need a picnic lunch and good walking shoes.

See you on Wednesday!