Sunday 27 December at the funfair museum

Ile de France Walks is taking a holiday break until Wednesday 6 January, when our regular walks resume.

Meanwhile, our friend Daniel has a personal invitation for the friends of Ile de France Walks.

Over the holiday season, he highly recommends a visit to the Musée des Arts Forains, a super carnival arts museum at Bercy, as well as a visit to the grand Christmas funfair exhibition now on at the Grand Palais. Normally open for group visits only, the Musée des Arts Forains is open to all until 3 January.

Personally, he plans to go there on Sunday 27 December. The Museum is even more fun if you go with a group of friends. What better friends than the Ile de France Walks group?

To have a more thorough look at the two shows, pay a visit to their web sites.

http://www.pavillons-de-bercy.com/
http://www.grandpalais.fr/

If you'd like to join in the fun, contact Daniel at

09 50 56 65 26.

       01 45 90 65 26.

Daniel nous fait part de ce message personnel qui n'entre pas dans le cadre d'Ile-de-France Walks :

Pendant les fêtes, il vous recommande vivement la visite du Musée des arts forains (Paris-Bercy) ainsi qu'une "exhibition" au Grand Palais sur le même thème. Le Musée des Arts forains est ouvert dans des conditions exceptionnelles jusqu'au 3 janvier.

Personnellement, il s'y rendra Dimanche 27 Décembre avec ses amis; les 'IdFwalksfriends' sont les bienvenus.

En attendant vous pourrez consulter :

− http://www.pavillons-de-bercy.com/
− http://www.grandpalais.fr/

N'hésitez pas à le contacter
     Tél. 09 50 56 65 26.
            01 45 90 65 26.

Wednesday 16 December in Fontainebleau forest

Next Wednesday, December 16, Ellen and Prudence will lead a 9 km walk in Fontainebleau followed by a festive picnic.

It would be nice to do the Route des Artistes from Barbizon, so if anyone could bring their car that would be a great help.

Ellen will bring red wine and cheese, Prudence bread to go with it and cookies, cake and mandarines. If anyone else feels like bringing something to share that's fine but not essential! It'll be fun; we can wish each other good cheer! (before a break in the walks during the holidays).

Meteo France announces a cold week so dress very warmly, there could be a few snow flurries!

By noon Tuesday, please let us know if you are planning to come and are able to bring a car:

• Ellen: lesdeves@wanadoo.fr,
  home 02 48 72 11 55
  cell 06 78 26 92 46
  
  
• Prudence: prukupka@aol.com
  home 01 46 26 03 06
  cell 06 63 44 60 09

Venez nombreux!

Logistics as usual:

The train (Gimo) leaves the Gare de Lyon at 10:05, destination Montargis, arriving at Fontainebleau-Avon at 10:40. This train leaves from the ground-level Salle Diderot at the gare.

Wednesday 9 December from Fontainebleau to Bois le Roi

This week, December 9, we will return to the beautiful Fontainebleau Forest.

This time, instead of making a loop starting and ending at the Fontainebleau-Avon station, we will start at Fontainebleau and walk about ten km through the forest to the Bois-le-Roi station. Depending on the pace and desires of the hikers, we could lengthen the walk.

The train (Gimo) leaves the Gare de Lyon at 10:05, destination Montargis, arriving at Fontainebleau-Avon at 10:40.

We will aim for the 16:38 return train from Bois-le-Roi which arrives in Paris at 17:11.

Ellen and Mary Lynne request that everybody intending to come contact Mary Lynne, giving phone numbers, especially since there are rumours that there might be a train strike next week.

mlfich@yahhoo.com
01 47 41 98 20
06 70 88 18 59

As this is December, it’s time to break out the thermoses, but as the weather has been unseasonably mild, the chances of rain are very good, so bring rain gear as well. (picnic lunch, good humor, etc. etc.)


See you on Wednesday!

Wednesday 2 December along the Bièvre

Dear Hikers,

This week, December 2, we will leave Daniel’s Gr2 and the valley of the Seine hikes (to be continued in 2010) and return to the valley of the Bièvre. We will hike 16 km. from Jouy-en-Josas to the town of Bièvres, passing through the Bois de Verrières. At the end of the walk, those of you who are interested and not too tired can visit the musée français de la Photographie in Bièvres which relates the history of photography from its origins and houses an extraordinary collection of photos, documents and photographic equipment. Entry 3 euros, 2 for "personnes agées"

Getting there: We will meet outside the train station of Jouy-en-Josas (zone 4) at 10:17.

There are two ways to reach Jouy-en-Josas from Paris, and each requires a change. I have chosen the way where you will change at Versailles Chantiers.

Departure: 9:24 from the station St. Michel Notre Dame, on RER C SARA, direction St. Quentin-en-Yvelines, arriving at Versailles Chantiers at 9:59. Change to the RER C VICK which leaves at 10:10 and arrives at Jouy at 10:17. This train passes through Champs de Mars Tour Eiffel at 9:35. I will meet you at Versailles Chantiers on the quai.

You can also arrive at Versailles Chantiers from the Gare Montparnasse on the train DAPO which leaves Montparnasse at 9:40, direction Dreux and arrives at Versailles Chantiers at 9:52.

The other way to Jouy is to take the RER B PLAN at 9:13 at St. Michel Notre Dame, direction St. Remy Les Chevreuse and change at Massy-Palaiseau. There is a 15 minutes changeover time. Change to the RER C CIME leaving at 9:51, direction Versailles Chantiers, arriving at Jouy at 10:05. If this option is more convenient for you, and you don’t mind waiting 12 minutes for the others to arrive, by all means try it!

Return: From Bièvres (zone 4) RER C, trains every 20-30 minutes in both directions.

Bring the usual picnic lunch and rain gear. If you want to be notified if we need to cancel or there is a last minute change of plans, please call or email me with your phone number(s).

See you on Wednesday!

Mary Lynne

06 70 88 18 59

01 47 41 98 20

Wednesday 25 November from Cesson to Melun

Our walk on November 25 will be led by Daniel Perot. Here is his information.

Dear Hikers,

As announced, this Wednesday 25 November we'll continue our walk on the GR2, which will take us from Cesson to Melun. The distance is 16.5 km, about four and a quarter hours.

For those who would like a shorter walk, they can catch an RER D train back to Paris at the station of Mée sur Seine. In that case the distance is 12.5 Km and the time an hour less.

Comme annoncé... ce mercredi 25 novembre, nous continuerons notre parcours sur le GR2 qui nous mènera de Cesson à Melun. La distance sera de 16,5 kilomètres (durée : 4h15).

Pour les marcheurs qui le souhaitent, ils pourront écourter ce parcours en regagnant la gare du Mée-sur-Seine sur la ligne RER D, pour rejoindre Paris. La distance sera de 12,5 kilomètres (durée : 3h15).

This week our walk will be a continuation of last week's lovely hike on the GR2. We hope that the trains will be running normally.

Getting there

Take the RER D at Châtelet Les Halles at 10.19 or at the Gare de Lyon at 10.23 towards Melun (train ZUCO). The arrival station is Cesson (zone 6) at 11:05. Buy a one-way ticket as the return will be from a different station.

Acheter un ticket simple, le retour s'effectuera par une autre gare.

If you are coming from the suburbs into Paris and out again to Cesson, a Mobilis ticket for six zones is somewhat cheaper than purchasing separate tickets.

We'll meet on the way into town, rue de Verdun, and not in the large parking lot on the other side of the station.

Return

Trains are frequent from Le Mée and even more so from Melun.

Trains fréquents depuis le Mée sur Seine (RER D) et Melun (RER D + trains).

Bring a picnic lunch, water, good shoes and rain gear, just in case.

Please email or call Daniel if you wish to go on the walk.
Email: daniel.perot@free.fr

He would appreciate your cell phone number if you have one or your home phone if not.

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

C U Wed HH (Happy Hikers).

Recent IDF Walks

Sue Medsger has kindly sent us some pictures taken on some recent outings with Ile de France Walks. Here they are.

As for all the other pictures on this site, click on the picture to see it full size.

The first three photos are from 7 October (between Garches and Meudon).




The fourth is from 14 October (between St Quentin and Jouy en Josas).


The following 5 were taken 28 October (Forêt de Rosny sur Seine).










The last one was taken 4 November (between Verneuil Vernouillet and Vaux sur Seine).

Wednesday 18 November, the GR2 at Seine Port

Dear Hikers,

On November 18 and November 25, Daniel Perot will lead our next two walks along the GR2 near Melun. This "Grande Randonnée" hiking trail extends from Dijon to Le Havre, passing through Paris on the way. It is a section in the department of Seine-et-Marne (77) that we will discover on our next two hikes.

This Wednesday, November 18, we will walk 16 kilometres, along the Seine, in the forest, and discover the village of Seine-Port.

Ce mercredi 18 novembre, c'est un parcours de 16 kilomètres que nous effectuerons, en partie le long de la Seine, en forêt et en traversant le village de Seine-Port.

Getting there

Take the RER D at Châtelet les-Halles at 10:07 or at the Gare de Lyon at 10:12, direction to Melun, train ZIPE. Meet on the platform. The arrival station is Le Plessis Chênet- at 10:57. Purchase a one-way ticket as the return will be from a different station.

Acheter un ticket simple, le retour s'effectuera par une autre gare. Zone tarifaire 6.

Return

Gare de Cesson 16:28 (arrivée à Châtelet Les Halles à 17:14) Later trains at 16:43, 16:58 etc.

Bring a picnic lunch, water, good shoes and rain gear, just in case.

Please email or call Daniel if you wish to go on the walk.

Email: daniel.perot@free.fr

He would appreciate your cell phone number if you have one or your home phone if not.

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

See you Wednesday!

Wednesday 11 November, park to park along the Seine

Hello all walkers who are in France:

On Wednesday 11 November I would like to lead you for a walk on which we will cross three parks along the Seine:

• Parc Andre Citroën
• Parc Départemental de l'Ile Saint Germain
• Parc de Saint-Cloud

The meeting place for us will be in the RER C station Javel in the 15th arrondissement. There I will be waiting for you from 9.45. We will start walking at 10 am.

I count on arriving at the destination, metro station Boulogne Pont de St Cloud, around 12.30. There you can decide whether to go to the metro or have a 'communal luncheon' in the Brasserie des Arts where I will reserve a table.

As always: bring something to drink and snack and wear the appropriate shoes and clothes. We will not have a sit down picnic on this walk.

If you are planning to come, please let me know by mail mdavidault@gmail.com. I look forward to seeing friends old and new...

A bientôt -

Martina David-Ault

Wednesday 4 November in the forest of Hautil

This week we will have another chance to admire fall foliage in a forest near the Seine, this time closer to Paris. We will cover 14 kilometers beginning at Verneuil-Vernouillet and ending in Vaux-sur-Seine, passing through the Hautil Forest where will will see remains of the gypsum quarries that were active from the 18th century to the middle of the 20th century.

We will stop to admire the church at Triel (13th-16th c.) dedicated to St. Martin. It was a stop on one of the pilgrimage routes to St. Jacques de Compostella. The stained glass windows are admirable. Claude will lead this walk. Here is his information:

Cette randonnée de 14 km et 300 m de dénivelé nous permettra, après avoir longé la base de loisirs de Verneuil et traversé la Seine, de découvrir la curieuse église de Triel, de continuer à travers la forêt de Hautil et de surplomber la vallée de la Seine jusqu'à Vaux-sur-Seine.

Aller :

Gare St Lazare 9h23 train MALA en direction de Mantes la Jolie. Arrivée à Verneuil Vernouillet à 9h51 où je vous attendrai.

Retour :

Gare de Vaux sur Seine à 15h50 train PUCA pour arriver gare St Lazare à 16h40.

N'oubliez pas votre pique-nique.

Claude
06 84 14 55 35

Wednesday 28 October in the forest at Rosny sur Seine

We will finish the month of October with a lovely hike led by Claude in the Forest of Rosny, one of the biggest forests in the northwest Yvelines, located just downriver from Mantes La Jolie. As you will read below, the hike will be 18 km. long and will have a 450 meter elevation change.

Claude will meet us at the SNCF station of Mantes la Jolie at 9:39 and will take us to the bus which will bring us to our trailhead at Rosny sur Seine. Here is his information:

Randonnée automnale autour de la forêt de Rosny sur Seine

Au XVIe siècle cette forêt faisait partie du domaine de la famille de Sully, conseiller du roi Henri IV. Je vous propose donc de parcourir cette forêt très vallonnée à partir du petit village de Rosny sur Seine et de profiter des premières couleurs de l'automne.
Le parcours fait 18 km avec un dénivelé de 450 m.

Parcours aller :

• Departure : Gare St Lazare 9h07 - train 51001 direction Evreux, direct jusqu'à Mantes la Jolie (zone 6) arrivée à 9h39.
• Sortir de la gare côté Mantes la Jolie (direction nord) où je vous attendrai.
• Bus TAM R2 à 9h47 jusqu'à l'arrêt Saint-Charles de Rosny-sur-Seine à 9h58.

Parcours retour :

• Gare de Rosny sur Seine 17h51 - train 5016 pour Mantes la Jolie arrivée à 17h56.
• Gare de Mantes la Jolie 18h08 - train 124 direct Paris St Lazare arrivée à 18h40.

N'oubliez pas votre pique-nique.

See you on Wednesday with a picnic and rain gear !

In case of any problem, 06 84 14 55 35.

Walk 21 October at Fontainebleau

Dear Hikers,

This week, October 21, Ellen Vivet will again lead a walk in the beautiful Forêt de Fontainebleau.


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.


If you have a car and are willing to drive down, we could vary the route, which, as usual, will be determined by the number of cars vs the number of people.


Ellen especially requests that everybody intending to come should contact her at ellenvivet@me.com and everybody with a cell phone should give Ellen their cell number. This is especially important since there is construction work around the station at Fontainebleau Avon.


See you on Wednesday!

Wednesday 14 October along the Bièvre

Dear Hikers,

This week we will hike the first part of the valley of the Bièvre River, a modest 36 km Ile de France river which has its source near St Quentin en Yvelines. The Bièvre flows peacefully east then north to Paris, emptying into the Seine near the Pont d’Austerlitz.

Our first lap will take us thirteen kilometers through bucolic landscape and charming villages from St Quentin to Jouy en Josas. Further downstream, the Bièvre suffered from the polluting effects of industrialization and urbanization.

In recent years serious efforts have been made to restore and clean up the river and its banks and making it attractive for hikers by creating a trail along its entire length. Some parts downstream are underground.

Getting there

We will meet outside the train station of St Quentin en Yvelines (zone 5) at 10:00. There are four ways to arrive at St. Quentin by public transport.

• RER C 7 line, direction St. Quentin en Yvelines, trains SARA, passes through St. Michel/Notre Dame at 9:09 and Pont d’Alma at 9:18, arriving at 9:51.

• SNCF line from La Defense to La Verriere, train VERI, direction La Verriere, leaves at 9:29 and arrives at 9:56.

• SNCF line from Montparnasse train ROPO, direction Rambouillet, leaves Montparnasse at 8:59, arrives at St. Quentin at 9:32
  
  
• You can catch the La Defense - La Verriere train by taking the 9:34 train 62477 from Montparnasse, direction Rambouillet, to Versailles Chantiers and changing to the VERI train mentioned above.

Added attraction

Towards the end of the walk, you could visit the Museum of the Toile de Jouy. This would be a great opportunity to learn about the production of this distinguished cotton material, the most famous being the cameo monochrome designs. www.jouy-en-joas.fr. Look under "Decouvrir".

Return

From Jouy-en-Josas (zone 4) RER C 8.

Bring the usual picnic lunch and rain gear.

If you want to be notified if for some unforeseen reason we need to cancel, please call or email me with your phone number(s).

See you on Wednesday!

Mary Lynne

Wednesday 7 October, up and down from Garches to Meudon

Prudence is back from the States and will lead us on October 7. Here's her information.

UP AND DOWN FROM GARCHES TO MEUDON

This walk will take us from the gare de Garches - Marnes La Coquette (SNCF) to gare de Bellevue (SNCF) or Brimborion (T2) in Meudon; about 12 km mainly in the woods but crossing bits of towns from time to time, expect some hills!

The train to Garches - Marnes Le Coquette leaves gare St Lazare at 9:37 to arrive at 9:57. I'll meet you at Garches. The return trains are frequent, every quarter hour or so, but on a different line, so don't get a round trip ticket.

Remember good walking shoes, water, picnic, and hopefully no rain!

Looking forward to walking together.

Prudence

01 46 26 03 06

06 63 44 60 09

prukupka@aol.com

Wednesday 30 September at Dreux

Next Wednesday, September 30, Claude Faure will lead us on a 10 kilometer walk in and around the city of Dreux, located just west of the Eure River, which separates the departments of the Yvelines and the Eure-et-Loire.

In medieval times Dreux defended France from their powerful Norman neighbors to the west. On our walk we will learn about Dreux’s rich past as we explore it's many remarkable monuments. We will also walk outside the city, so this visit is not just a city tour.

Here is Claude’s information:

Ancienne place forte médiévale face aux puissants ducs de Normandie, la ville de Dreux a gardé de remarquables monuments comme l’église Saint Pierre du 13e siècle, le beffroi et l’hôtel Montulé du 16e siècle, la chapelle royale du 19e siècle.

Cette promenade d’environ 10 km à travers et autour de la ville nous permettra de découvrir ce riche passé.

Départ :
Gare Montparnasse 3 Vaugirard à 9h20 par le train 16513 en direction de Dreux pour une arrivée à 10h07 (12,90 € et 6,50 € pour les cartes sénior)

Retour :
A 15h38 par le train 16516 arrivant à 16h25 gare Montparnasse 3 Vaugirard.

** Visite de la chapelle royale durée environ 1h coût 7,50 €
** Musée du vignoble drouaix (si nous avons le temps) coût 4 €.

Old medieval fortress defending the frontiers of "France" against the powerful dukes of Normandy, Dreux still has a number of remarkable monuments. Among them, the 13th-century church of Saint Pierre, a Renaissance bell tower, the 16th-century hôtel Montulé and the 19th-century Chapel Royal.

The walk, about 10 km in and around Dreux, will give us a good look at these riches. The tour of the Chapel Royal takes about an hour and costs 7.50 €. If we have time, a visit to the vineyard museum of Dreux will cost 4.00 €.

Departure:
Gare Montparnasse 3 Vaugirard at 9:20 on train 16513 headed for Dreux, arriving 10:07. Allow extra time for the considerable walk from the main Montparnasse station to its Vaugirard annex.

Tickets are 12.90 € full price and 6.50 € with the Carte Sénior.

Return:
At 15:38 on train 16516, arriving 16:25 at Montparnasse Vaugirard

You will need a picnic lunch and the usual rain wear and walking shoes.

Sunday 27 September at Provins

A DAY TRIP TO PROVINS

A walled medieval city, part of the UNESCO world heritage.

Here are the details of the walk.

Departure: Paris (Gare de l'Est) 9:45. Arrival Provins 11:07.

Return:
Provins: 16:21. Arrival Paris 17:41.
Provins: 18:14. Arrival Paris 19:41.
Provins: 20:14. Arrival Paris 21:41.
Provins: 21:21. Arrival Paris 22.41.

The station is 2 kilometers from the old city. The train is neither a TGV nor at all medieval, but it is a slow country train and the trip is 86 km long.

The walk

Leaving the station we will walk up to the old city, admire the historic houses, and get some maps at the tourist office. A few steps along the ramparts and we'll have our lunch at 12:30. At 13:15 we'll set out on a 3½ hour walk across the surrounding wheatfields and through the woods.

Then we return to the city, with remarkable views across the fields. There we'll visit Caesar's Tower, Provins' most famous monument.

If we have been good walkers, we'll have some time to wander around the city, visiting shops, boutiques and cafés. In the late afternoon we'll meet at the central Place du Châtel and look for a snack shop or creperie and get our strength back.

Don't forget the station is 2 kilometers away, half an hour's walk from the old city. The walk will last 4½ or 5 hours.

Those who prefer a more detailed tour of the city can leave the group after lunch and walk along the three sightseeing tours of the town. Join the main group at the place du Châtel in the afternoon for a happy end to the day.

Provins is particularly lively on Sundays, with numerous activities, visits and shows. Invite your friends to come along! For more information see www.provins.net.

Train fares

A 6-zone Mobilis ticket is a good deal cheaper than a round trip ticket from Paris. Mobilis is a one-day pass for a unlimited travel in Paris and the Ile de France, valid for train, métro, bus and RER. Provins is in zone 6.

As usual bring a light lunch and water and be prepared for a sunny day or a rainy one, even on Sun Day.

Please email or phone Daniel if you wish to come on the walk.

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

Looking forward to seeing you,

Daniel

Wednesday 23 September in the forest of Fontainebleau

Dear Hikers,

This week, September 23, Ellen Vivet will again lead a walk in the beautiful Forêt de Fontainebleau.

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.

If you have a car and are willing to drive down, we could vary the route, which, as usual, will be determined by the number of cars vs the number of people.

Everybody wanting to come should contact Ellen at ellenvivet@me.com and everybody with a cell phone should give Ellen their cell number. This is especially important since there is construction work around the station at Fontainebleau Avon.

See you on Wednesday!

Wednesday 16 September, Champs and Noisiel

Next Wednesday's hike will be led by Daniel Perot. Here is his information. Happy hiking!

The Wednesday walk 16 September is a continuation of our recent hike to Champs sur Marne. This time we'll press on from Champs to Noisiel.

La randonnée de mercredi 16 septembre sera la prolongation de celle effectuée récemment et qui nous a conduit à Champs-sur-Marne. Cette fois-ci, nous continuerons notre escapade de Champs-sur-Marne à Noisiel.

During the hike, we will follow the river, cross different parks and woods, see the château de Champs and the famous"Chocolaterie Menier", which has considerable social and architectural interest. It will be possible to visit the building, now the headquarters of Nestlé France, during the Journées du Patrimoine on Sunday 20 September.

We shall meet outside the station of Noisy Champs at 10:23.

When you get out of the train, turn to the right along the quai in the same direction as the train, go up the steps and take the left-hand exit.

En sortant du wagon, se diriger dans le sens du train... prendre les escaliers, c'est la sortie à gauche.

To reach the station Noisy Champs, take the RER A going to Marne la Vallée. Buy a single ticket. The RER leaves the station:

• Charles-de-Gaulle-Etoile at 9:53
• Châtelet-les-Halles at 10:00
• Gare-de-Lyon at 10:03.

14 or 16 km - 3½ or 4 hours as the group decides. As usual bring a light lunch, water, and sun or rain gear.

Please email or call Daniel if you wish to go on the walk.

daniel.perot@free.fr

09 50 56 65 26 or 01 45 90 65 26

Mobile 06 99 20 70 79 (only on the day of the walk).

Looking forward to seeing you.

Daniel

Wednesday 9 September, Blackberry season on the Mauldre

Dear Hikers,

This note contains information about two walks that Claude is going to lead this month.

1) VALLEE ET COTEAU DE LA MAULDRE

This week, September 9, Claude will lead us on a walk through woods and fields in the undulating countryside near the valley of the Mauldre. The walk will be a loop of approximately 15 km. There are no steep climbs. Blackberries are at their peak at this time so you just might want to bring a container for your collection.

Departure : SNCF train MOPI at 9 :43 from the Gare Montparnasse which arrives at the station Nezel-Aulnay (zone 6) at 10 :44. We will meet in front of the station.

Return trains from the same station are at 15:48 or 16:48, depending on our walking speed and how much time we spend picking blackberries. Claude (06 84 14 55 35) will meet you at the Nezel-Aulnay station. Bring your picnic and rain gear.

2) DREUX

Claude is also planning a walk in and around the city of Dreux with its famous royal chapel and old historic area, approximately ten kilometers, on the 30th of September. In order to reserve a guide for a tour of the Royal Chapel , he would like to constitute a group of twenty people.

Please contact Claude asap if you are interested in this hike and visit. claude7.faure@orange.fr

See you on Wednesday !

Wednesday 2 September in Fontainebleau Forest

Dear Hikers,

This week, September 2, Ellen Vivet will lead a walk in the beautiful Forêt de Fontainebleau.

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.

If you have a car and are willing to drive down, we could vary the route, which as usual will be determined by the number of cars vs the number of people.

Everybody wanting to come should contact Ellen at ellenvivet@me.com and everybody with a cell phone should give Ellen their cell number.

See you on Wednesday!

Wednesday 26 August , a short walk in the Forêt des Quatre Piliers

This week’s walk will be relatively short (9 km) forest walk in the Yvelines between Orgerus Béhoust and La Queue des Yvelines.

For those who would like to visit a wonderful butterfly greenhouse, they can add another 4 km. at the end of the walk. More than 500 exotic butterflies can be seen with explanatory panels about their habits, defense, life cycle, etc. The entry fee is 7 €. There is a promotion these last two weeks of August where a child can enter free with a paying adult.

Aller: We will meet at 10:23 a.m. at the Orgerus/Béhoust train station.

Take the SNCF train DAPO from the Gare Montparnasse, direction Dreux, departing at 9:40, arriving at Orgerus Béhoust (zone 6) at 10:23.

It is also possible to pick up this train at Versailles Chantiers station at 9:52.

Retour: We will return from the station Garancieres La Queue les Yvelines (zone 6) on the same train line. Trains run every hour at 14:17, 15:17, 16:22, 17:22.

Bring a picnic lunch, sun protection and rain gear, just in case!

Please rsvp to Mary Lynne Fichtenberg if you are coming. mlfich@yahoo.com

I would appreciate your cell phone number if you have one and your home phone if not.

Mary Lynne’s numbers:

01 47 41 98 20 and 06 70 88 18 59

See you Wednesday!

Wednesday 19 August in the woods from Garches to Chaville

This week’s walk will be in the coolness of the Parc de St. Cloud and Le Foret de Fausses Reposes and it will take about 4 hours (roughly 10 -12 km). Our first stop will be at the La Fayette Escadrille Memorial (Memorial to the Lafayette Squadron) dedicated to the 68 American pilots who volunteered to fly for France during WWI. Next we will pass through the charming village of Marnes-La-Coquette, and then go on to our picnic spot at Les Etangs de Ville d’Avray. After lunch we will explore the Bois de Fausses Reposes before heading to the station in Chaville for our return to Paris.

We will meet at 10:00 a.m. in front of the Garches/Marnes La Coquette SNCF train station, zone 3. The return will be from the SNCF station of Chaville, rive droite, also zone 3. To reach Garches, the two best options are:

1. SNCF train from the Gare St. Lazare, direction St. Nom La Breteche/ Foret de Marly, train “Pils”, departing at 9:37, arriving at Garches at 9:54. The trains to St. Nom leave from Quais 1-4 all the way on the left side of the St. Lazare station when you are facing the quays.
2. You can transfer to the 9:37 train (coming from St. Lazare) at La Defense where it makes a stop at 9:45. You can make the connection at La Defense by taking the RER A, train BHIN, leaving Chatelet les Halles at 9:24 and Charles de Gaulle/ Etoile at 9:30, or by the Metro line 1.

Bring a picnic lunch and rain gear, just in case!

Please rsvp to Mary Lynne Fichtenberg if you are coming. mlfich@yahoo.com I would appreciate your cell phone number if you have one and your home phone if not.

Mary Lynne’s numbers: 01 47 41 98 20 and 06 70 88 18 59

See you Wednesday!

Wednesday 12 August at Nogent sur Marne

Wednesday we'll enjoy the peace and quiet of Nogent, virtually the 21st arrondissement of Paris and just as deserted in August. To get there we'll cross the bois de Vincennes which is in Paris, part of the 12th arrondissement.

Mercredi 12 août, c'est du côté de Nogent que nous irons apprécié le calme de ce quasi-21e arrondissement de Paris déserté au mois d'août. A noter, le Bois de Vincennes fait partie de la ville de Paris (12e arrondissement).

Programme

11:45 metro Porte Dorée (line 8). We meet at the square des Combattants d'Indochine, at the foot of the golden statue.

Walk through the Bois de Vincennes, then along the river towards the port of Nogent sur Marne.

Return via the opposite bank towards Joinville le Pont, where we'll catch RER A. Total distance about 10 km.

13:00 lunch at "la Cartoucherie", a former munitions factory, now converted to house several theaters.

14:30 a stop is planned for us to go bowling or just have a drink near the port of Nogent.

As usual bring a light lunch and water, and be prepared for rain or sun.

Please email or call Daniel if you wish to go on the walk.
daniel.perot@free.fr
09 50 56 65 26 or 01 45 90 65 26.
Mobile 06 99 20 70 79 (only on the day of the walk).
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Looking forward to seeing you.
Daniel.

Walk Wednesday 5 August around Provins

A Day Trip to Provins
A walled medieval city, part of the UNESCO world heritage

The walk plus the tour of the city are well worth two days. This Wednesday we'll start with a general tour of the town and its surrounds. A second visit, on Sunday 27 September, will give us a closer look at this distinguished old city. On Sundays a variety of shows and cultural events are on offer, so invite your friends!

La randonnée + la visite de la ville mérite bien d'y consacrer deux jours. Aussi, mercredi 5 août, nous pourrions déjà faire une visite générale de Provins et de son environnement. Une autre fois, dimanche 27 septembre nous ferons une visite approfondie de la ville. Le dimanche offrant de nombreuses animations/spectacles, vous pourrez y inviter vos amis.
Here are the details of the walk.

Departure:
Paris (Gare de l'Est): 9:45. Arrival Provins: 11:07.
Return:
Provins: 17:14. Arrival Paris: 18:41.
Provins: 18:14. Arrival Paris: 19:41.
Provins: 19:14. Arrival Paris: 20:40.
The station is 2 kilometers from the old city.
The train is neither medieval nor a TGV, but it is a rather slow country train and the trip is 86 km long.

Train fares: a 6-zone Mobilis ticket is much cheaper than a round trip ticket from Paris. Mobilis is a one-day pass for a day's unlimited travel in Paris and the Ile de France, valid for train, métro, bus and RER. Provins is in zone 6.

The walk
Leaving the station we will up to the old city, admire historic houses, and get some maps at the tourist office. A few steps along the ramparts and we'll have our lunch at 12:30. At 13:15 we'll set out on a 3½ hour walk across the surrounding wheat fields and through the woods. Then we return to the city (remarkable views across the fields) and visit Caesar's Tower, Provins' most famous monument.

We'll have some time to wander around the city, visiting shops, craftmen and cafés.
In the late afternoon we'll meet at the central place du Châtel and look for a snack shop or creperie to get our strength back. Don't forget the station is 2 kilometers, half an hour from the old city.
The walk will last 4½ or 5 hours.
Durée totale de la randonnée : 4 1/2 voire 5 heures.

Those who prefer a more detailed tour of the city can leave the group after the lunch and walk along the three sightseeing walks in town. Join the first group at the place du Châtel in the evening for a happy end to the day.

As usual bring a light lunch and water and be prepared for a sunny day or a rainy one.

Please email or phone Daniel if you wish to come on the walk.
Phone 09 50 56 65 26 or 01 45 90 65 26
Mobile (only on the day of the walk) 06 99 20 70 79.
Email:daniel.perot@free.fr

Looking forward to seeing you,

Daniel

Wednesday 29 July on the Marne

Daniel will be leading a walk to the beautiful banks of the Marne and its parallel canal, where the constant passage of barges contrasts with slender canoes and kayaks. This section of the Marne which we'll discover will lead us to another sector we are now familiar with, Champs and Noisiel. We'll visit the château of Champs, one of the finest in France, set in a park in the "English style".

Transport
RER A (direction Marne la Vallée) to Neuilly Plaisance (zone 3).
The train QYEL passes through Paris at
- Charles de Gaulle Etoile 10:13.
- Châtelet les Halles 10:19.
- Gare de Lyon 10:22.
Arriving at Neuilly Plaisance at 10:36
Return from Noisy Champs on the same line (zone 4).

Distance 15 kilometres.
Bring the usual picnic lunch, water and rain or sun gear.
If you'd like to join us, please RSVP to Daniel at

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

A la découverte d'une partie intéressante de la Marne, cette belle rivière, et son canal latéral.
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Le glissement incessant des péniches
fait contraste avec les sveltes canoës-kayaks. (Guide FFRP)
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Cette partie de la Marne que nous découvrirons ensemble nous permettra d'effectuer un maillage avec un autre secteur que nous connaissons bien maintenant, celui de Champs/Noisiel. Là nous visiterons le jardin du château de
Champs, l'un des plus beaux de France qui a la particularité d'être enchâssé dans
un parc à l'anglaise.
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Transport - RER A (direction Marne-la-Vallée). Arrêt : gare de Neuilly-Plaisance.
Le RER (QYEL) passe à
- Charles-de-Gaulle/Etoile 10:13.
- Châtelet/les-Halles 10:19.
- Gare-de-Lyon 10:22.
Arrivée : Neuilly-Plaisance 10:36 (zone 3)
Retour : gare de Noisy-Champs (même ligne) (zone 4).
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Longueur : 15 kilomètres.
Bring the usual picnic-lunch-water and rain or sun gear.
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If you'd like to join us, please RSVP to Daniel at
daniel.perot@free.fr
Tel. 09 50 56 65 26 or 01 45 90 65 26.
Mobile (only on the day of the walk) : 06 99 20 70 79.

Ile de France Walks
http://idfwalks.blogspot.com