Wednesday 1 February in the upper Hauts de Seine

This week’s walk, 12.5 km., will be led by Mary Lynne, in the northern part of the department of the Hauts- de-Seine, from Colombes to Rueil-Malmaison, for the most part, along the Seine.  Here is ML’s info:

Our itinerary will take us along a 450 m. “Coulée Verte (photo op tags) and the center of Colombes before we head down to the Seine where we will discover three parks, two of which have been created along an industrialized section of the river: “Parc Départemental Pierre-Lagravère”, and “Parc du Chemin de L’Ile”. Following the “Promenade Bleu” we will arrive at the “Parc des Impressionistes” in Rueil-2000.  Between the parks there is a lot to see and learn about the industries and water sanitation along the river.

The park Pierre Lagravère is situated on what was formerly the Ile Marante which was attached to the mainland when the A86 was built. You can read about the Moulin Joly which was on the island, and the other parks on these sites:

http://fr.topic-topos.com/le-moulin-joly-colombes  

http://promenades.hauts-de-seine.net/web/nature/parc-pierre-lagravere

http://promenades.hauts-de-seine.net/parc-chemin-ile

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parc_des_Impressionnistes

Getting there:  Gare St. Lazare, SNCF train NOPE, at 9:41, direction Nanterre Université, arriving at Les Vallées, zone 3, at 9:53.  I will board that train at Bécon Les Bruyeres. If you happen to take an earlier train, when you get out at the gare des Vallées, go under the tracks you arrived on and then go over another set of tracks on a footbridge to come out on the Colombes side of the station where there is a pedestrian commercial street.

Return: RER A, Gare de Rueil-Malmaison. Trains every 10 minutes; more at rush hour.

You will need a picnic lunch, cold weather protection and a dose of good humor. The terrain is flat, there’s not much mud but good hiking shoes are recommended. A word of caution: the first “arrêt technique” will be a good kilometer after the train station.

If 12.5 km is not enough for you, it is possible to continue along the Seine right to Croissy, Bougival or even as far as Le Pecq!

See you on Wednesday!

Mary Lynne           mlfich@yahoo.com           06 70 88 18 59     01 47 41 98 20

Wednesday 25 January in Paris

On the canal Saint Martin

As a change from last week's delightful "mega-muddy" trails, this week Dominique Raveau will lead us on cement and macadam in Paris from the place de la République to La Villette. 

If any of you are raring to get back out into the countryside, have a hike to propose, and can get your proposition to me quickly, we can certainly have two walks this week. Meanwhile here is Dominique's information.

I propose a walk along the Canal St Martin and the Bassin de la Villette ending with a stroll through the Parc de la Villette where we'll have a picnic. After that we can visit le Musée de la musique (history and collection of instruments). If we have a group of at least ten people the visit with audio-guide in French or English costs 6€40 per person (8€ full price). The pace will be rather a promenade, altogether not more than 4½ hours. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_Saint-Martin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassin_de_la_Villette

http://www.citedelamusique.fr/francais/cite/presentation_musee.aspx

Meeting at 10 am, sortie 3 from metro République, rue du Faubourg du Temple

Return : Metro Porte de Pantin line 5

My mobile : 06 33 23 07 31

Looking forward to seeing you
Dominique

At la Villette

Wednesday 18 January in the royal forest of Montceaux

The château at Montceaux lès Meaux

Jean-Louis Narjoux will lead this week’s walk in the department of the Seine et Marne (77) just beyond the city of Meaux, permitting us to discover the town of Trilport and the Forest of Montceaux, which was yet another royal hunting spot before the revolution. 

Here is Jean Louis' information:

Je vous propose une rando aux Bois de Monceaux à Trilport le Mercredi  18 janvier, 2012 d’environ 18 km; environ 5h (y compris pique nique); pas de difficultés particulières.

Equipement ad hoc, bonnes chaussures (terrain peut-être un peu boueux) pique nique... (Good hiking shoes as there might be mud, picnic lunch as usual.)

Getting there :

R.V : gare de l'Est pour le train "ZIMO" de 09h51 direction Chateau-Thierry; arret: gare de Trilport à 10h 20

Return :  retour de la même gare, possible à 15h 38 ? ou 16h 38 si on traine un peu.

(Return from the same station, possibly at 15:38, or maybe 16 :28 if we walk slowly.)

Bien  amicalement,

Jean-Louis Narjoux.

Wednesday 11 January on the Grand Morin

Near Crécy in a harder winter than this one

Daniel Perot will lead this week's walk in one of the loveliest spots to the east of Paris in the valley of the Grand Morin. There will be a possiblility to leave early. Here is Daniel's information.

Let's hope this wonderful weather continues (ho, hum!)

On Wednesday January, 11th, our walk will start at Crécy-la-Chapelle, la Venise briarde in the Brie, with its river the Grand Morin and its lovely brooks.

We will take the train from the gare de l'Est, in Paris, to the station of Crécy en Brie-La Chapelle (zone 5).
1. Départure : Gare-de-l'Est 9:31. Direction: Meaux (train MICI). Arrival at Esbly 11:02.
2. At Esbly, transfer to Crécy en Brie-La Chapelle at 11:07. Arrival 11:20.

Then... Will we chose a bucolic or an athletic walk? (same itinerary). Also a shorter walk until lunch time is possible. In any case the return is still in zone 5.

• For a bucolic walk - Return from Crécy en Brie 15:38. Arrival in Paris at 16:28.
• For an energetic walk - Return 14:38. Arrival 15:28.
• For a shorter walk - After 6 kilometers with the group, you can catch a train going to Paris at the station "Villiers-Monbarbin" at 12:41 (single ticket/zone 5).

We will cover 12 kilometers in 3 or 4 hours. Change in altitude: 49 m/130 m.


Remember to bring along water and some lunch... rain gear, sun gear, snow gear (if necessary), hats. We will walk through fields and woods and along rivers (with only one hill).

Come and visit "la Venice briarde" in winter. Just take your sturdy shoes and come with us for a lovely walk.

If you wish to be informed of any changes or cancellations, please r.s.v.p. to daniel.perot@free.fr with your cell number if you have one and your home phone if not.


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