Dear Hikers,

 

This week we will go on an adventure outside of zone 5 !! to La Ferte Milon and walk 18.5 km to Crouy sur Ourcq (safely back in zone 5) . In La Ferte Milon there is a huge unfinished 14th century chateau which was even further dismantled by Henry IV thus leaving a really impressive facade which dominates the town but has nothing behind it . After walking up a short gentle hill to look at this chateau and the church we will come back down  to the Ourcq canal and follow its many meanders for several kilometers and then a second canal (all completely level) . The final part of the walk is through countryside and village and involves a couple of short easy hills . Just as we arrive at the station of Crouy sur Ourcq we will pass the 14th/15th century ruins of the Chateau du Houssoy.

TRAVEL

An early start I am afraid - we will catch the 8.51 train ZIMO from Paris Est direction Chateau Thierry  as far as Trilport arriving 9.20 where we have 8 minutes to change trains and catch the 9.28 train FOMO  from Trilport to La Ferte Milon arriving 9.54

The return journey will be from Crouy sur Ourcq changing again at Trilport and the trains are hourly at thirteen minutes past the hour

TICKETS

Buying tickets for this trip appears to me to be unnecessarily complicated but unless you know a better way this is what I would suggest :

It seems impossible to buy a ticket at any of the machines (green ,yellow or grey/blue) for La Ferte Milon so I would suggest you buy it ahead of time (as there is often a queue) from a ticket office - the one at Gare de l'Est is by platform 17.

For the return trip it is easier as Crouy sur Ourcq is in Zone 5

Lunch may be a little on the late side so we will have a pause for some "elevenses" (snack)

Don't forget water , appropriate clothing and footwear , and your lunch

PS For ladies of a shy disposition there is not much cover for a technical stop during the first hour!

See you Wednesday

Judy

Landline 01 30 80 01 34

Mobile   06 79 48 38 81