Following La Seine

After our spectacular and somewhat indulgent dinner, we felt the need for some slightly more serious exercise. We've been hit with another heatwave in France and since temperatures are generally sitting in the high 30's, exertion has not been top of our list. We headed into the Fontainebleau Forest at the end of the street, in the late afternoon, and the temperature immediately dropped by at least 5 degrees. As this is only 50 kms from the heart of Paris, Parisions refer to it as the lungs of Paris. The forest was indeed spectacular, a vibrant green with some very spectacular rocky outcrops. Overall Fontainebleau Forest covers 61,776 acres and is notable for its large sandstone boulders, erosive remnants from the Oligocene age, but relatively young in geological terms, that are spread throughout the park. Bouldering is a very popular activity in the park along with hiking the many forest trails. Surprisingly we didnt see another person in the hour we were walking, apart from the group of elderly French people, playing petanque in the sandy parkland near the trail entrance. Its probably just too hot for the average French person.

Wednesday was going to be just as warm so a little drive through the forest was in order with the AC to keep us cool. It was hard to map out a plan, as I had starred some villages of note, back in 2024, but now I needed to source a decent coffee at the first stop, and a reasonable lunch along the way. Being in the 'not bothered mode', I delegated the research to Roger, who in turn sought a solution from his side kick ' Charles'. And surprise, surprise within 5 minutes, Charles had mapped out a route, found a pleasant coffee shop in the town of Samois-sur-Seine, suggested a lovely walk along the banks of the Seine, and then located a very acceptable restaurant for lunch. Located in the village of Moret-sur-Loing, Le Jardin des lys was right beside Le Loing River, which is a tributary of La Seine.
It was still scorching hot, but we stoically sat outside and sipped our GnT and Aperol Spritz for rehydration purposes only. Moret-sur Loing is a truly picturesque medieval village from the 12th century. With its half timber houses, big stone arches and old flour mills dotted beside a maze of rivers, offering several bathing opportunities, the French were out in force here with their picniques and bathers. We enjoyed a walk through the village before returning to Barbizon for our GnT's and toasting the success of 'Charles's' efficient planning, thou I was assured I would not be replaced yet!

And this is where things got interesting. La Grande Rue was blocked off, just past our apartment and le gendarmes were on duty. From our window, not five minutes later, a large fire truck and water tanker went past, no lights and sirens, but anxious to get up the street past the large delivery truck that was stuck trying to turn right on the barrow deviation road. Naturally after all this excitement we needed to check out what was going on. We walked to the end of the street where we saw a small plume of smoke rising from the forest and hoses hooked up to protect the village, just in case. There was a whiff of smoke but we slept easily, although two more firetrucks went up the road in the morning.
Today, Monday 13th, as I am finally updating the blogg, we are reading that the Fontainebleau Forest is alight. Two areas, are ablaze and over 2000acres have already been burnt. The A6, major motorway into Paris has been closed and a small village evacuated. Fire bombing aircraft from Canada are filling their 'buckets' from La Seine to help control the fire.

I guess this is the year of living dangerously.Read more