Ramblers travel club celebrates 30 years

The Ramona Ramblers Senior Travel Club met for its monthly meeting and to celebrate its 30th anniversary at the Ramona Senior Center.

The club was honored with a certificate of recognition sent from District 77 California Assemblyman Joel Anderson. Photo albums from members’ collections were on display in the pool room, including newspaper clippings documenting the club’s travels over the decades. Members also shared stories and birthday cake during the March 1 celebration

Traveling down memory lane, Don Owen, 89, one of the club’s original members, was on hand to recall a few of his experiences, stating that he went along for the “trips and the adventure.”

Aside from new members, the only change Owen has seen to the ramblers is the cost of travel.

“It’s harder to get the trips to go now because it’s too expensive,” he said. “That’s one thing, it’s expensive to go. They were cheaper 30 years ago.”

Dorothy Coen has travelled with the club since the beginning, too. Hearst Castle, the Panama Canal and the Alaskan Cruise were some of her favorite trips with the club.

“They’re all real good and a wonderful group of people,” she added.

The club is at 150 members and growing, according to Liz Prafke, the club’s tour director.

Prafke said that she tries to have trips once a month. Day trips and overnight excursions are scheduled throughout the year.

“Anybody over the age of 55 can go on our trip or join,” said Prafke. “Anybody under 55 can go as long as they pay an extra $5. They wouldn’t be able to join (the club).”

The club’s next available trip will be Saturday, April 17, to the Carlsbad Flower Fields. The March trip to the Santa Ysabel Casino has been booked.

The club meets at 1 p.m. the first Monday of each month at the Ramona Senior Center. Admittance to the meetings is free. Annual memberships are $5.