THE RAMBLER

Responsible Travel. Creating Community.

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Hi Reader,

We have wonderful news to share.

Angel is Home 🏠

Angel Paz, our beloved Refugio Paz contact, is home and recuperating beautifully from his open heart surgery. We are so grateful for the outpouring of support from all of you—your donations, shares, and messages of love made a real difference for Angel and his family during this scary time.

Together, we raised $40,000 to help cover surgery costs, accommodate his family in Quito near the hospital, and remove some of the stress that comes with a medical emergency of this magnitude. Thank you for showing up. For Angel, for his family, and for all of us who believe in supporting the people and places we love.

Now, back to rambling: here's what else we've been up to.

Follow the Crows: Birding a Different Trail in Portland

Scott and I headed out birdwatching in downtown Portland, following a trail of hand-painted crow statues created for a fundraiser supporting OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital. A charming way to explore our neighborhood.

👉 Read it here: Follow the Crows: Birding a Different Trail in Portland

Follow the Crows: Birding a Different Trail in Portland

Crossing the Rumichaca Border: Colombia to Ecuador

Our Ecuadorian writer Jacquie Granda shares what it's really like at the Rumichaca border crossing — and why this line that seems to divide actually brings two countries closer together.

👉 Read it here: Crossing the Rumichaca Border: Colombia to Ecuador

International Journalists at the Rumichaca border, Colombia-Ecuador

Summer Rafting Trip Packing List: Our Best Picks

Everything you actually need (and nothing you don't) for a warm-weather river adventure. We've tested this list on Oregon's Rogue River.

👉 Read it here: Summer Rafting Trip Packing List

Rafting the Rogue River with the right gear

Our Affiliate Pick: HolaFly eSim

Traveling internationally this fall? We love HolaFly's affordable eSims for over 200 countries — including Ecuador, Colombia, and everywhere else you're headed. No more juggling physical SIM cards or paying outrageous roaming charges.

Use our partner link for 5% off your first eSim. We've used HolaFly on trips across the Americas and genuinely love staying connected without the headaches.

👉 Get your eSim + 5% discount

Our November Ecuador Trip is Booked! 🦅

We're heading back to Ecuador this November and we're hoping you might join us—or at least some part of the adventure.

The timing is perfect: we're coordinating with the Ecuador Bird Fair in Quito, where Angie will be speaking about storytelling in eco-tourism on Saturday, November 14th. This year's emblematic bird is the stunning Blue-throated Hillstar, and we're already plotting a trip to Southern Ecuador to spot it.

Will you be in Quito during the Bird Fair? Or interested in joining us for part of the journey? Hit reply—we'd love to talk through the details with you.

Thanks for Rambling With Us,
Angie & Scott

Living life to its fullest, one day at a time.

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