LAKE OF THE WOODS - ESCAPE CRUISE NEWS

Stay tuned here for News about the Escape Cruises as we get it.

Hot off the Press

ESCAPE NO BOAT CRUISE - March 2nd, 2002

This years event will be held in Winnipeg at the Casino Club Regent / Hotel Fort Gary
1415 Regent Avenue W.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R2C 3B2

Transportation will leave the Hotel Ft Gary at 5:30 pm for Club Regent
Cocktails 6.00 pm – Dinner 7.00 pm.
Tikal Room / Club Regent.

The theme for the No Boat is:

“ALL DRESSED UP AND NO PLACE TO GO”

Buffet Style Dinner

Pasta Caesar Salad
Tomato and Red Onion Vinaigrette
Crisp Garden Greens with Dressings
Wild Mushroom Salad
Fresh Raw Vegetables with Creamy Dill Dip
Relish and Pickles
Porters Platter of Slow Roasted Shaved Beef
Smoked Turkey with Cranberry Sauce
Corned Beef and Black Forrest Ham
Imported and Domestic Cheeses with Assorted Crackers

Carved Prime Rib of Beef with Yorkshire Pudding
Honey Glazed Ham with Apple Cinnamon Sauce
Roast Turkey with Stuffing and Sage Gravy

Includes Breads and Butter, Vegetables, Potato, Rice and Dessert Table
Coffee or Tea

$ 31.00 including taxes Canadian
$ 20.00 including taxes U.S.
Cash Bar

THE SPRING ESCAPE CRUISE

Will be held June 1st at Smith Camps in Kenora
Visit their Website HERE

THE SUMMER ESCAPE CRUISE will take place July 11th – 14th.
More info on both these cruises will be posted later, but mark your calendars now so you are sure to make it.

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2001 Summer Escape a Great Success
This year's Summer Escape Cruise had a great turn out and even Mother Nature co-operated with fantastic weather. The boats met in Sioux Narrows at Totem Resort for an evening of fine dining and socializing.
The next morning (Friday) the boats travelled by division to Wiley Point Lodge arriving about 5 pm, just in time to relax, clean up and indulge in another fine meal prepared by the friendly staff at Wiley Point Lodge.
After the meal there was much socializing on the boats and docks at Wiley.
Saturday morning the boats travelled, by division, to Oak Island and Sunset Lodge. Here all took part in the "Games People Play" and then had a fine meal prepared by Bill and staff at Sunset Lodge Resort. After the meal Sunset Lodge provided a music man for entertainment and dancing, well into the night. Some of the boats left to park "around the corner" at Bonnie Brae Resort on the other side of the Island.
Sunday noon, after "goodbyes and see you next years" most left for Home Ports.
Al and Patti Halfaker did a fine job as commodores of this year's cruise and we are looking forward to what Doug and Nora Biggar have in store for us as Commodores for the coming season!

Fall 2001 Escape to be held at Big Narrows Resort
Stay tuned for details here

2001 Summer Escape Itinerary and Entry From is now available on this site
Click HERE for the Summer Escape Details
and HERE for the Registration Form

Winter 2001 "No Boat Escape" Saturday Feb 17th & 18th
The Winter "No Boat Escape" details are as follows:
Two Departure Points
Kenora: Leaving at 10:00 am on Saturday, Feb 17th. Contact Larry or Lori Malbrank. They have a group of 20 snowmobiling to Oak Island and Warroad Saturday. Join them and make reservations at a Motel in Warroad for Saturday night.

Warroad: Leaving Saturday at 11:00 am on Saturday, Feb 17th from Springsteel Resort. Bruce and Judy MacCallum, along with Greg and Jan Boynton will escort the entourage.

Both groups will meet at Bonnie Brae Resort on Oak Island for Lunch

Late Saturday Afternoon: Depart as a group for Warroad to check into Motels. We will meet for supper and a social time together.

Sunday: Homeward bound.

Please contact the guide from your area to let them know you are coming.

Larry & Lori Malbrank - 807-568-2300
Bruce & Julie MacCallum - 218-386-1470
Greg & Jan Boynton - 218-386-3581

Warroad Motels
Patch Motel - 218-386-2723
Can-Am Motel - 218-386-3807
Super 8 Motel - 218-386-3723

Hope to see you in Warroad on Saturday!
Al Halfaker
Commodore 2001

Fall 2000

The Fall Escape 2000 was held at beautiful Wiley Point Lodge. Great friends and warm welcomes made up for the cool rainy weather. A delicious "cooked to order" steak barbeque was served the the dining room overlooking the lake. After dinner everyone retired to the lounge and socialized before heading back to the boats for a "nightcap".
Commodore Al Halfaker announced the dates for the Summer Escape 2001. They are July 5, 6, 7 and 8th, 2001.
Tentative plans are for Sioux Narrows on day one, Wiley Point on day two and Oak Island for the night of the 7th with everyone heading home on the 8th.
Stay tuned here for news as we get it. Meanwhile, mark your calendars to be sure you don't miss the Great Summer Escape 2001 !

Fall Escape 2000

Aug 07, 2000
Just got the latest news letter about the Fall Escape from Al Halfaker. Here are the details:
Fall Escape to be held on Saturday, Sept 2nd, 2000
Location is Wiley Point Lodge on Lake of the Woods
Time: Boats from all points to arrive at Wiley Point on Saturday afternoon
Cook your own T-Bone Steak ($16.95 US / $24.50 Can) outside or order off the menu
Breakfast served on Sunday morning 6 to 9 am
Lodging: Call Totem at 1-800-TOTEM toll free or call 807-226-5275 ASAP
Sunday: Boaters usually head home or anchor out in secluded bay

Commodore: Al Halfaker and First Mate Patti
20134 Bluebird Drive
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Res: 218-326-0278
Work: 218-326-0211

Sunday July 30, 2000
Talked to Al Halfaker (2001 Commodore) today and he has announced the Fall Escape will be held at Wiley Point Lodge on Lake of the Woods, on Saturday night the 2nd of September. At last word they had some shore accommodations available. You can view their wonderful facilities or make accommodation reservations by clicking HERE. Look forward to Al's newsletter coming soon.

Summer Escape 2000

About 30 boats met at the town docks in Kenora, ON on Thursday afternoon. Most of the cruisers then took in the boat cruise and commodore's ball on the MS Kenora tour boat where a fantastic dinner was served as we watched the sun set over Lake of the Woods. After the cruise most retired to their boats on the docks and socialized for a while longer.

Friday AM the boats were divided into 3 divisions, depending on their choice of traveling speed. We were in the 800 division and cruised with 8 other boats. Our route took us South through Keewatin Channel, up through the "Tangle" and to Holmstrom's Marsh where we stopped at our leader's (Jack McKenzie's cottage, long enough for him to pick up some last minute supplies. Back underway we proceed South-West through Holmstrom's Marsh and turned South to Whisky Island. It was a windy day and we bounced and jounced around, knocking over wine glasses 'till we reached the shelter of Whiskey Island. From here we travelled up through Crow Rock Pass, on past Wiley Point and through Big Narrows to Bishop Bay. From Bishop Bay we continued on South-West to the West side of Monument Bay where we anchored and rafted up in the lee of an Island for a lunch and refreshment break. After about a 90 minute stop we were again underway headed for Sunset Lodge on Oak Island. At Oak Island, the boats that needed to top off their fuel tanks for the next day took turns at the gas pumps, then everyone tied up for night. The other two divisions joined us and waited for the festivities to begin.

After playing some games on the deck, and socializing with our new friends, Sunset Lodge, our host resort, served and excellent buffet style dinner of ribs and chicken with corn on the cob, potatoes and lots of fresh salads. Yum!

The rest of the evening was spent either on the beautiful deck at Sunset Lodge or in the Lounge or on the docks. Everyone retired early in anticipation of the cruise to Nestor Falls on Saturday

Saturday about 11:00 am we left for Nestor Falls. We travelled East to Miles Bay then took the Southern Route to Nestor Falls. Along the way we passed through a channel and came upon the rest of the fleet tied up to one of the Escape participant's cottage dock. We stopped and tied up as well and enjoyed their generous hospitality, which consisted of Hot dogs and potluck lunch and of course some refreshments. Back underway we travelled through gorgeous country, small channels and high rock cliffs. At Nestor Falls we tied up to the Government Docks and mingled on the docks, swimming and enjoying refreshments till the dinner bell rang at Greens Barbecue Bar and Grill. Again we were served a wonderful, tasty buffet of which most ate way too much.
After dinner Joe McEachern, the 2000 Commodore (See the photogallery) passed out the prizes for last night's games and passed over the reins of the Commodore to Al Halfaker of Warroad MN. Lots of laughs and good socializing were capped by retirement to our boats for the evening.

Sunday AM boats started leaving for home ports with memories of another GREAT ESCAPE. We left with Hank and Ginny Henderson at about 11:00 AM. We stopped at Oak Island on our way back, said our farewells and continued on to Kenora, arriving late afternoon after a lazy easy cruise home.

Will we do it again? In a minute! Great people, great stops.... What more can we say!