Wednesday 21 November at Vincennes or in the Mantois

Vincennes as shown in the Très Riches Heures du duc de Berri

This week we have two options. Jean Chameroy will lead a walk in the Bois de Vincennes and Claude Faure will guide us in the Forêt de Rosny-sur-Seine near Mantes.

First here's Jean's info:

We will walk around the lakes of the Bois de Vincennes, nearly 10 kms on flat ground. Meet at 10 o'clock under the golden statue near the exit Porte Dorèe of Metro Line 8. We will return to the station Chateau de Vincennes, Line 1.

Dont forget your food, your clothes and your good humour.  

Jean :)

__________________________________________

Now here is Claude’s information : 

« Quoi de mieux pour réchauffer vos muscles engourdis par le froid, qu'une longue randonnée de 19km et 450m de dénivelé (3 chaussures) à travers la campagne mantoise? Sully, ministre d’Henri IV, sera un peu le fil conducteur de cette randonnée. Il nous fera découvrir sa magnifique et très vallonnée forêt de Rosny sur Seine aux couleurs de l'automne ainsi que la campagne environnante. »  

Roughly translated as : What better way to warm up your muscles numbed by the November cold than a 19km, three star hike through the countryside near Mantes, with 450 meters of positive and negative altitude change. Henry IV’s minister Sully will serve as the theme of this walk during which we will discover the magnificent undulating Rosny sur Seine Forest with its autumn colors.

Départ : Gare St Lazare à 9h07 en direction d'Evreux, arrivée à Mantes la Jolie (zone 5) à 9h39 où je vous attendrai pour prendre un bus en direction de Rosny.

Merci de descendre rapidement du train. Please get off the train rapidly so that we will not miss the bus connection.

Retour : Si la cadence de marche est soutenue, train à 17h10 à Mantes la Jolie arrivant à 18h07 à Paris St Lazare, sinon train toutes les 30 mn. 

If we walk quickly enough we can take the 17.10 train back to St. Lazare. Otherwise, there are trains every 30 minutes.

Possibilité de billet Mobilis zone 5, sinon munissez vous de 2 tickets de métro pour l'aller-retour en bus à la gare de Mantes. 

If you do not have a 5-zone Mobilis ticket you will need two metro tickets for the bus.

N'oubliez pas des vêtements appropriés, de bonnes chaussures (terrain parfois pentu et glissant), votre pique-nique et votre bonne humeur habituelle. 

Be prepared for steep and/or muddy terrain.

See you on Wednesday.

Claude 

06 84 14 55 35

The château de Rosny

Wednesday 14 November from Torcy to Vaires

The Torcy Kayak Club

Michel Browne will lead us this coming Wednesday about 16 km along the Marne. Here is his information:

Starting from the Lagny Thorigny station we will  go west, following the Marne on its right bank to the Vaires lock at the beginning of the Chelles canal.  Crossing the Marne right after, we’ll go along the left bank across a new garden where the Torcy Kayak Club has its brand new clubhouse.  Our picnic could be there, around 2 hours after departure expected at 10.00.  There are modern benches but no tables.

In the afternoon we’ll tour the Noisiel chocolate factory site, now housing the Nestlé-France headquarters and its wonderful Venetian-style Saulnier brick mill, then walk in the Noisiel Park all the way down to the walking bridge of Gournay sur Marne.  Going back east we’ll walk along the Chelles canal and  the Vaires Lake recreation area, then to the station of Vaires sur Marne.   The entire walk is flat.

Departure time from Paris gare de l’Est on the 9.31 train to Meaux. The third stop is Lagny Thorigny (zone 5).  I’ll meet everyone at the Lagny Thorigny station at 10am. 

Return tickets should be taken from the Vaires sur Marne station, also zone 5, departure every 30 minutes back to the gare de l’Est.  

See you on Wednesday.

Michel

06 49 85 25 07

Ruins of the old mill at Gournay

Wednesday 7 November "Down by the Old Mill Stream"

The church at Oinville sur Montcient

 After Claude's delightful hike in the Vexin Francais four weeks ago we will continue our exploration of this region, starting at the same station, Meulan-Hardricourt, but going in a different direction, and returning from the town of Juziers. 

Our walk of about 15km will take is through woods, fields and villages: Gaillonnnet, Oinville sur Montcient (lunch spot) and la Chartre where we will make a quick stop at the Fontaine Saint Gaucher whose waters were reputed to cure epilepsy. 

The Moncient, which we will cross several times, is a stream of about 11km which joins the Aubette just before it empties into the Seine at Hardricourt. There will be some gentle hills, nothing difficult, except for mud in a few places. Does this surprise you considering the recent weather? 

There is no bailout possibility. The good news is that there is a café-restaurant in Oinville where we can stop for a hot drink after lunch. Oinville had several mills on the Montcient, one of which is on our itinerary.  http://www.oinville-sur-montcient.fr/les-moulins.html 

Getting there: Gare Saint Lazare train MOCA, direction Mantes la Jolie, at 9.12, arriving at Meulan Hardricourt (zone 5) at 10.08 where I will await you just outside the station.

Return trains from Juziers (also zone 5): 16:07, 16:40, 17:00

Bring the usual picnic lunch, rain gear and wear the sturdiest, most waterproof hiking boots you own!

 

See you on Wednesday.

Mary Lynne

 

ML's contact information: 

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

The Fontaine Saint Gaucher

Wednesday 31 October from Etampes to Etréchy

The château de Villemartin

Etampes to Etrechy: Water Mills and Châteaux

Here are the details for the walk Stuart will be leading on 31 October:

Distance: 19km

Terrain: 2 hill climbs - fairly long but not steep - otherwise easy going

**NO BAIL-OUT OPTION**

For this week's walk we follow the course of La Juine river from Etampes to Etrechy. From Saint Martin d'Etampes RER we join the Juine and follow it through the Parc de Loisirs to Morigny-Champigny where we will have lunch next to the église de la Trinité. 

After lunch we make a slow climb out of the town through woods and descend to the small hamlet of Champigny where we will pass by the well-preserved 15th-century château de Villemartin, a rare example of a rural manor house pre-dating the Wars of Religion, and the 19th century château de Jeurre, famous for its gardens and statues. From here we continue along the Juine to Etrechy RER. All along the Juine we pass by old water mills!

                                     

Getting there: 9.32 gare d'Austerlitz RER C (train ELBA) direction Saint Martin d'Etampes arriving at 10.31 Saint Martin d'Etampes (zone 5). Meet up in the last carriage. 

Getting back: Etrechy – gare d'Austerlitz. Trains every '05 & '35 minutes past the hour.

Whether it rains or not, it will certainly be colder than recently, so please come prepared with warm clothes and, of course, your never-failing good humour!

Regards,

Stuart

Wednesday 24 October from Le Vésinet to Vaucresson

Claude Monet, the Seine at Bougival

 Two Bobs are better than one. But not by much.

On Wednesday 24 October Bob Levy and Bob Deutsch will lead us the 16 km from Le Vésinet Centre (RER A) to Vaucresson (SNCF); both are in zone 4.

To start we will follow the fall-color-lined stream which winds its way from Le Vésinet, to Le Peq, and back to Le Vesinet.  Then it's along the Seine, crossing the bridge to the Impressionists-favored village Bougival.  Even if this section of the walk is all you do, it will be well worth it.

From Bougival each Bob will lead a separate group uphill.  For those desiring a steep climb to forest trails, one Bob will provide.  For those favoring a non-steep uphill amble to those same trails, the other Bob will oblige. Together we will continue through forest-trail and lane to the picture-perfect town square at La Celle Saint Cloud where we will lunch.  Continuing on we descend through forest colors to the Gare at Vaucresson.  Depending on time, weather, and interest, the walk can be extended 2-3 km to the station at Garches (Zone #3).

NOTES:

• For those who wish to do only the first part of the walk (Vesinet-Bougival) the flat path along the Seine can easily be followed back to RER A at Chatou. A map will be provided.
• A snack break is planned following the uphill from Bougival. Fruit, even a small sandwich is recommended as lunch might be later than usual.
• Technical stops are hard (but not impossible) to accommodate in the walk's first hour. Please plan accordingly.
• There are several uphills and downhills throughout the day.  None are on difficult trails.  None are long. 

MEET-UP INFORMATION:

Châtelet Les Halles RER A direction Saint Germain en Laye, rear of the platform (the LAST car): 9:15 am for the 9:24 RER A, arriving at Le Vesinet Centre at 9:47.  That same train stops at Etoile at 9:30, and La Défense at 9:34.  At that hour RER A trains run quite frequently.  If you wish to take an earlier train we will meet you at Vésinet.  However be certain that the A you take stops at Le Vésinet-Centre !!!

From Vaucresson, SNCF trains run every 30 minutes to La Défense and Saint Lazare.

As always, picnic lunch, strong water-resilient shoes and outer garments.

Bob Levy:

LEVYBOB@SBCGLOBAL.NET

RAL415@GMAIL.COM

09 79 67 70 88
On Day of Hike: 06 43 45 58 33

New: here are some pictures from the day of the walk.

Wednesday 17 October around Cergy

Next Wednesday, Daniel Perot will lead us in and around the ville nouvelle de Cergy-Pontoise. Here is his info.

In the wake of the walk led by Bob in May... 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 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.

Getting there...
Take the RER A (UBOS) headed for Cergy le Haut at:
   - Châtelet Les Halles 9.30.
   - Charles de Gaulle Etoile 9.36
   - La Défense 9.41
Meet-up at the head of the train.

Arrive at Cergy Saint Christophe (next to the last stop) at 10.14.
Meet-up: at the exit, near the clock. Look up you should find it.
Return from the same station (zone 5). Frequent trains.

The walk should last about 3½ hours, some 14 km. The ground is flat.
For a shorter walk, it is easy to leave the group and return to the station earlier.

Bring the usual good shoes, picnic lunch, and appropriate weather gear.  As
the rains have returned, consider a plastic 'sheet' or other covering for
sitting on wet ground, rocks, or tree-trunks at lunch.

To contact Daniel:
daniel.perot@free.fr
09 50 56 65 26

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

Wednesday 10 October along the Aubette

Condécourt, château de Villette

This week Claude will lead us through villages, countryside and woods of the the Valley of the Aubette in the Vexin Francais. Here is his information:

A pretty brook in the the Vexin, the Aubette: old washhouses, a château, charming villages with their Romanesque churches, a former sandstone quarry—in short, a dream. But it's a dream that doesn't come for free, with a hilly trail of 20km and 425m change in altitude but no major difficulties.

Un joli ruisseau du Vexin, l'Aubette, des lavoirs, un château, de charmants villages et leurs églises romanes dans une campagne vallonnée, une ancienne carrière de grès, le rêve quoi ! Mais c'est un rêve qui se mérite sur un parcours vallonné de 20 km et 425 m de dénivelé, sans difficulté majeure, qui vaut au maximum deux chaussures et demi.

Départ : Gare Saint Lazare train MOCA à 9h12 en direction de Mantes la Jolie, arrivée à Meulan Hardricourt (zone 5) à 10h08 où je vous attendrai.

Retour: Gare Meulan Hardricourt à 14h43 ou 15h13, selon notre allure de marche.

Bring appropriate clothes (sun or rain, but snow is not forecast), your picnic and your usual high spirits. See you Wednesday!

Vêtements appropriés (soleil ou pluie ?, pas de neige prévue), pique-nique et bonne humeur habituelle.

A mercredi.

Claude

01 30 92 04 95

06 84 14 55 35 le jour de la rando

In downtown Meulan

...And an alternative!

Since I am not quite up to Claude's 20 km walk (although it sounds great!) how about a short one near Paris, in the Foret de Meudon? 

Starting at the SNCF gare de Chaville Rive Gauche at 10:09, departure from gare Montparnasse at 9:50, and return on RER C from Meudon Val Fleuri, frequent trains. I will meet you at Chaville Rive Gauche. 

We'll walk through the woods, some gentle up and down, around a couple of ponds, not more than about 8 km. It's been raining, so there will be some mud; bring rain gear, water, a snack/lunch. 

If it's open we could stop at La Cabane des Pecheurs for a cafe.

Hope to see you then, tout de bon,

Prudence

prukupka@aol.com

01 46 26 03 06 

06 63 44 60 09