Capt. Brian in the Amazon Circa 2000

Capt. Brian in the Amazon Circa 2000

Last Sunday I had the opportunity to meet Wade Davis and listen to him speak about his most recent book, Into The Silence.  Wade Davis is the author of fifteen books and an award winning anthropologist who is an in resident explorer for National Geographic. He was also a student of my all time favorite ethnobotanist, Richard Evans Schultes. In my eyes, Schultes is the “father of ethnobotany” and one of the greatest plant explorers of all time. In the year 2000 I had the opportunity to travel to the Amazon Rain Forest in Peru and study plants in one of the many areas that Schultes had studied 50 years before.  It was the opportunity of a life time and it was all brought back into focus last Sunday when I met Wade Davis who wrote One River about explorations and discoveries in the Amazon Rain Forest.
Wade Davis inspires me in how I look at plants, people and cultures. 
THANK YOU Mr. Davis!
Brian Holaway
relaxandexplore@gmail.com

I have been a Shelling Guide to Cayo Costa State Park since 1995. Many people know me as the Shelling Guide and Captain with Captiva Cruises over the past 20 years. In 2016 I began solely offering private small boat charters to the islands of Pine Island Sound including Cayo Costa State Park, Cabbage Key, Useppa Island, Pine Island and North Captiva. I am a certified Florida Master Naturalist, licensed USCG Captain, avocational photographer, seashell enthusiast and passionate about the history, people and culture of Southwest Florida, especially Cayo Costa. I volunteer as a member of Friends of Cayo Costa State Park and have great respect for the heritage of Cayo Costa. My goal is to provide guests with an overall experience and appreciation for the waters, islands, shells, plants, marine life, wildlife, history and people of this unique area of Southwest Florida.

9 Comments
  • Kim@Snug Harbor
    Posted at 04:24h, 22 January

    Well, that was all very interesting! Love the photos.

  • Traci Mason
    Posted at 04:24h, 22 January

    Oh wow..how cool is that to see someone you admire so much! I already know I'd like him, he is a fellow NatGeo!!!! A current one too!! O.O Oh how I would love to do some old school Nat Geo talk'in with him!!

    Okay Brian, Rob and I had to chuckle looking at your pics from back in the day…you had HAIR and a lot of it, full face beard & stash! Lol…

    I love adventure and everything nature but you couldnt pay me enough to roam around the Amazon! Way too many dangerous stuff, beautiful but dangerous. I do just fine seeing it on TV and hearing about it from you! An awesome adventure for you and memorable!!

  • mkdally
    Posted at 16:33h, 22 January

    What an amazing trip! I especially liked the pic with the parrot on your shoulder.

  • Susan
    Posted at 03:28h, 23 January

    Were you…..dancing????

  • Capt. Brian Holaway
    Posted at 10:51h, 23 January

    Susan,It was fesitvial season deep in the jungle. One of the villagers asked me to dance so I did.

  • Capt. Brian Holaway
    Posted at 10:52h, 23 January

    Susan,It was fesitvial season deep in the jungle. One of the villagers asked me to dance so I did.

  • Nancy
    Posted at 10:13h, 24 January

    Love this post! Great pictures from your trip! I can imagine how cool it was to meet Wade Davis. I just started reading "One River". Thanks for expanding my horizons 🙂

  • Paul C
    Posted at 04:45h, 25 January

    Capt. Brian,
    Where in Peru? My better half and I spent a year all over se. Peru and into Bolivia, inventorying birds etc. in '99. Alwyn Gentry was the real botanist's botanist… until he died in a plane crash with the best ornithologist (Ted Parker).

    Headed to Cayo Costa w/our 7 year old for three nights in Feb. How's water clarity? Would love to get her over some seagrass beds etc.

  • Capt. Brian Holaway
    Posted at 03:48h, 26 January

    Paul,I was by the Napo river.80 miles from the Colombian border. Alwyn Gentry was an amazing botanist. I have enjoyed reading his work about Panama as well as South America. I also enjoyed the stories of him playing his saxaphone deep into the night in unique places;)
    The water clarity as of today was excellent. We do have a front headed this way so things may get a little stirred up. The water the last 4 days has been perfect. Have a great time camping at Cayo. P.S. There has been some razor bills spotted to the south of the campground out in the gulf. Also frigits just off the point to the south of the campground.