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

Wednesday 22 July at Royaumont

Hello fellow hikers,

On Wednesday 22 July, Daniel will lead a walk to the region of Royaumont, located in the Val-d'Oise north of Paris. The highlight will be the Cistercian abbey and its cloister, the largest in France.

The abbey, built in 1228, was dissolved during the French Revolution and converted into a cotton mill. It is now a cultural foundation. The medieval garden could be the right place for our lunch. Entrance is 4.50 €.

Getting There
We will take the train at Gare-du-Nord (surface suburban), train LOMI direction Luzarches, and get off at Seugy in zone 5.
Departure 10.06. Arrival 10.54.
Get your round trip ticket to Seugy at your metro station. There's no ticket office at Seugy, only a credit card machine with Moneo.

Return Seugy 16.13, arriving Paris 17.01.
The train after is at 16.59, arriving 17.43.

The walk is about 14 km long. Cross the village of Seugy. A path in the woods will take us through an often muddy underpass, but avoids the most dangerous stretch of road. Please don't forget your good walking shoes. The road to the abbey is an impressive approach to the domain of Royaumont. Return to Seugy via the peaceful village of Baillon. Bring the usual picnic lunch and rain or sun gear.

As an extra we pause at the café "le Rendez-vous des Chasseurs". Sure, you will be conspicuous as you step inside. Here you are in "la France profonde".

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.

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

Wednesday 15 July around Cergy

Ever faithful to the cause, Daniel Perot proposes a new walk for Wednesday 15 July.

Starting from the giant RER station clock at Cergy St Christophe, "biggest in Europe", we'll admire some truly monumental architecture, then wander along the banks of the Oise where it loops around the Cergy leisure center.

Mercredi prochain, Wed July 15th, notre randonnée s'effectuera à Cergy, le long de l'Oise, qui dans un méandre entoure la base de loisirs. Nous démarrerons sous l'horloge gigantesque, la plus grande d'Europe, et là nous découvrirons une architecture audacieuse dans un secteur contrasté, avant d'aller apprécier les bords de l'eau.

Here are the details.
Take the RER A headed for Cergy le Haut:

• Châtelet Les Halles 9.32
• Charles de Gaulle Etoile 9.37
• La Défense 9.42

Arrive at Cergy St Christophe (zone 5) at 10.13
Return from the same station.
The walk should last about 3½ hours, some 14 km.
Bring your lunch, water and sun gear.

Voici donc les détails techniques : Transport par RER A, direction Cergy-le-Haut. Un RER quitte Châtelet/les-Halles à 9:32, Charles-de-Gaulle/Etoile à 9:37, La Défense à 9:42. Arrivée à Cergy-Saint-Christophe à 10:13. Retour par la même station. La gare de Cergy-Saint-Christophe se situe en zone 5. Lunch, water, sun gear... La rando devrait durer 3 h 30 heures (14 kilomètres).

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.

Wednesday 8 July in the forest of Isle Adam

Daniel Perot has written with a new Wednesday walk.

Pour mercredi prochain, je propose une rando dans la forêt de l'Isle-Adam. Il y a un certain temps que nous n'avons pas été à cet endroit. Cela consistera pour tout le monde à refaire un peu de repérage et d'aller à la recherche du "Pavillon chinois". Il faut déjà penser à la rentrée.

Voici donc les détails techniques : Départ : Paris, Gare-du-Nord, 10:13. Train POVA. Arrivée : Gare de l'Isle-Adam/Parmain, 11:08. Acheter un ticket aller, nous improviserons pour le retour. La gare de l'Isle-Adam/Parmain est en zone 6. Lunch, water, sun gear... La rando devrait durer approximativement 4 heures (16 kilomètres).

For next Wednesday I propose a walk in the forest of Isle-Adam. It's been a while since we were there last. For all of us it will be a matter of finding our bearings again and looking for the Chinese Pavillion. Then we'll think of how to get back.

Here are the details.

Depart Paris Gare du Nord surface 10.13 train POVA.
Arrive Gare de l'Isle Adam Parmain 11.08.
Buy a one-way ticket. We'll decide where to come back from on the day.
Isle Adam Parmain is in zone 6.
Bring lunch, water, sun gear etc.
The walk will last about four hours, roughly 16 km.

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.