Wednesday 26 January along the Seine in Paris

The Seine viewed from the Pont Royal

Hello All,

Next Wednesday 26 January  I plan to walk with you along the Seine (hoping that the water level is not going up). If you are ready to walk for about three hours - even if the weather is not the best - then please come and meet me in the RER C station  Javel, which is at the Pont Mirabeau in the 15th. You can also reach this station by Metro line 10, station Javel Andre Citroën. I will wait for you from 9.45 in the RER station JAVEL. We will start walking at 10.00.


We expect to reach Gare d'Austerlitz at about 13.00, traversing three Parcs: Jardins du Trocadero, Jardin des Tuileries and
Jardin des Plantes.


Remember: good shoes, appropriate clothing, water and ready to meet some fellow expats.


'Smiles'


Martina David-Ault 


PS Here are couple of pictures from the walk. See what she means by "appropriate clothing"?

Wednesday 19 January to the mouth of the Bièvre

An idyllic scene on the banks of the Bièvre in Paris

Dear Hikers,

This Wednesday, January 19, we will avoid the muddy conditions out in the country by hiking in the city. Our itinerary will take us along the fourth and final section the Bièvre River trail, about 12 km., from Arcueil/Cachan through Gentilly, into Paris 13th at the Poterne des Peupliers, following its curving path to the Gare d’Austerlitz where it flows into the Seine. This hike should take about 4 hours, maybe more, depending on the number of stops we make along the way. The river will be underground for the whole itinerary with concrete slabs indicating its path in certain places in the suburbs.  In Paris, there are a few markers but we will definitely need an eagle eye to find them and our imaginations to visualize the river and the industries along its banks before it was canalized and covered between 1864 and 1912.

Getting there:  We will meet at the RER B Arcueil/Cachan station at 10:00.  Take the RER B, train Krol, direction Massy Palaiseau, which leaves Chatelet les Halles at 9:44; St Michel - Notre Dame at 9:46; and Denfert Rochereau at 9:52.

Return:  From the Gare d’Austerlitz. There are several places along the way where it will be possible to leave the group early.

Bring the usual picnic lunch and rain/snow gear.  If we have torrential rain or a blizzard, there are cafés in the 13^th where we could stop for lunch.

See you on Wednesday!

Mary Lynne

mlfich@yahoo.com   01 4741 98 20     06 70 88 18 59

Wednesday 12 January at Fontainebleau

This week Jean-Louis Narjoux will lead us on a lovely itinerary in the Foret de Fontainebleau. Here is his information.

I propose a great walk to the Rocher Cassepot at Fontainebleau on Wednesday 12 January. It will be about 15 km in hilly terrain, a bit demanding but one of the most beautiful walks in the forest. It will take about five hours for "normal" walkers.

Getting there:

At the gare de Lyon, take the 10.05 train headed for Fontainebleau and Montargis. We'll meet at the near end of the platform and get into the rearmost wagon of the train.

Coming back:

There is a return train every hour at about half past the hour, from 15.31 to 19.31. We are unlikely to make the 15.31 but should be OK for the 16.31, returning to Paris gare de Lyon at 18.11.

Wear walking boots and bring the usual picnic.

Je vous propose une belle promenade au rocher Cassepot à Fontainebleau le Mercredi 12 janvier 2011.

15 km environ, itinéraire accidenté, un peu sportif mais vraiment un des plus beaux de la forêt. Durée prévue environ 5h00 pour des marcheurs "normaux" + arret pique-nique.

Depart :

Nous allons prendre le train à 10:05 à la gare de Lyon,  direction Montargis. RV au bout du quai pour ensuite monter dans le premier wagon à partir du quai.

Retour :

Pour le retour il y a un train toutes les heures à qqh31 de 15h31 à 19h31. Pour le train de 15h31 ce sera sans doute un peu juste, mais 16h31 doit être bon (retour à Paris gare de Lyon 18h11).

Prévoir chaussures + pic-nic as usual.

Jean-Louis Narjoux

Wednesday 5 January in Carnelle Forest

The Pierre Turquaise in the forêt de Carnelle

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Here's wishing you a year of good health and

invigorating hikes. We'll start off the year in the Foret de Carnelle with

Daniel Perot. Here is his information.

This week we will walk in the Forêt de Carnelle.

We'll take the train POMA from the gare du Nord (surface) at 9:36, arriving at Presles-Courcelles (zone 5) at 10:16. (Direction Persan-Beaumont, via Montsoult-Maffliers). We will meet at the end of the quay and board the last car (i.e. the one closest to our meeting point).

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

 15:13 / Paris 15:57.

 15:58 / Paris 16:42.

 16:57 / Paris 17:41.

The walk will cover from 14 to 16 kilometers depending on hikers and weather. On the menu: la Pierre Turquaise (megalith), la Route Forestière du Bois Belle-Fille leading to l'Etang Bleu where we will have our picnic. Be prepared for a couple of hills and cold weather: cold is excellent for mud, it's frozen, but not for toes and noses. So bundle up! "La forêt de Carnelle se mérite!"

Looking forward to seeing you and wishing you a HAPPY NEW YEAR

If you wish to be informed of any eventual changes/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 22 December from Vincennes to Chennevières

Vincent van Gogh, guinguette du Martin-Pêcheur 

Without a care for the weather ha ha we will jauntily cross the Bois de Vincennes to the banks of the Marne which we will follow to La Varenne Chennevières. The 15 km walk will take us to the ile du Martin-Pêcheur (Kingfisher Island) and its famous guinguette. Continuing down the Marne past a succession of other islands we'll take particular note of the remarkable "Anglo-Norman" architecture of the houses facing the river.


C'est sans se soucier de la météo (hum!) que nous traverserons allègrement le bois de Vincennes et rejoindrons les rives de la Marne qui nous mèneront jusqu'à La Varenne-Chennevières. Ce parcours de 15 kilomètres nous conduira à l'île du Martin-Pêcheur et sa guinguette. Face aux berges et îles suivantes, c'est l'architecture des maisons − anglo-normandes notamment − qui, comme d'habitude, retiendra notre attention.


Meeting − 10:00 am in the square des Combattants-d'Indochine, at the foot of the golden statue, metro Porte Dorée (Metro line 8).


We will be returning by RER A (every 10 minutes).


Bring a picnic snack or lunch and water. Plus good shoes and rain or snow gear, quand même !


If you wish to be informed of any eventual changes/cancellations, please
give Daniel your cell phone if you have one, home phone if not.


Prefer a shorter walk, about 8 km? You can take the RER A back to Paris from Joinville le Pont.


Les personnes qui le souhaitent pourront n'effectuer que la moitié du parcours avec un retour depuis Joinville-le-Pont (RER A).


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


See you on Wednesday with your usual good humour.


Daniel.

The Marne at Chevennières

Wednesday 15 December at Longpont and Monthléry

In the basilica at Longpont

Here is information about the December 15 walk which will be led by François Bechet:

 

It will be an easy 12 km. loop from St. Michel sur Orge, mostly through fields. We will visit the basilica of Longpont sur Orge and have a look on the Monthlery tower which is the remaining part of a castle built between the 11th and the 14th centuries.

Aller: We will take the "ELBA" RER C train leaving Champ de Mars at 9h43, St. Michel Notre Dame at 9h54, Gare d'Austerlitz at 9h58 and arriving at 10h28 to St Michel sur Orge. We will meet on the first car.

People who plan to come do not need to tell me. Bring a picnic lunch and dress warmly!

 

Bien amicalement,
François

The tower of Monthléry

Wednesday 8 December in the Chevreuse

This week Claude will be our fearless leader on what might prove to be snowy trails. Here is his proposal.

Here is a walk in the nature park of the Upper Valley of the Chevreuse, at the frontier of the departments of the Yvelines and the Essonne. Situated south of Chevreuse, the walk is 16km with a total climb of 330m. On our way, we'll pass the châteaux of Mauvières and Breteuil.

To get there, take the RER B train at 9.26 from Châtelet Les Halles to St Rémy lès Chevreuse (zone 5) arriving at 10.13.

To get back we'll take a return train from St Rémy some time between 3.30 and 4.00. There are trains every 15 minutes.

You'll want a picnic lunch, winter gear and your usual cheerful disposition.

Je propose donc une randonnée dans le parc de la haute vallée de Chevreuse, à la frontière des Yvelines et de l'Essonne. Situé au sud de Chevreuse, cet itinéraire de 16 km et 330 m de dénivelé, nous fera passer près des châteaux de Mauvières et de Breteuil.

Départ  par le RER B en direction de SAINT REMY LES CHEVREUSE  à 9h 26 à CHATELET LES HALLES pour arriver à 10h 13 à Saint Rémy.

Retour à partir de SAINT REMY LES CHEVREUSE entre 15h 30 et 16h avec un train toutes les 15 mn.

Casse-croute, tenue hivernale et bonne humeur indispensables.

Claude

claude.faure90@sfr.fr

01 30 92 04 95

06 84 14 55 35


========================================


Virginie has sent some pictures of this Wednesday walk. Don't you wish you were there?