A Getaway That Left Us Wanting to Linger Longer in the Lowcountry

By Melissa St. Clair, Featured Poet, and Getaway Guest

Day 1. Guests Arrive

From Colorado, Missouri, New York, Texas, West Virginia, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, and other parts of South Carolina, guests converged for a four-day itinerary curated by travel expert, Susie L. McMahon, Travel Concierge with Luxurious Journeys and Luxe Lowcountry Travel and founder of the Susie L. McMahon Virtual Book Club. Susie combined her love of travel and books to create an immersive experience in and around Beaufort, South Carolina, to bring the pages of Pat Conroy’s “THE WATER IS WIDE” to life.

THE WATER IS WIDE is Pat Conroy’s extraordinary memoir based on his experience as the only teacher in a two-room schoolhouse, working with children the world had pretty much forgotten. It was a year that changed his life, and one that introduced a group of poor black children to a world they did not know existed. [patconroy.com]

As part of the Getaway, three (3) fundraisers were planned to benefit the Pat Conroy Literary Center. The Pat Conroy Literary Center, an interpretive hub for writers and Conroy fans alike resides in the epicenter of downtown Beaufort, SC. 

Meet & Greet Authors Reception Sponsored by Luxe Lowcountry Travel

There’s a saying, “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes, or drive 5 miles.” Plans for an evening mixing and mingling with writers featured in Susie L McMahon’s Virtual Bookclub in an outdoor courtyard of the host lodging, The Beaufort Inn, were quickly moved indoors to The Old Bay Marketplace, 917 Bay Street when skies turned grey. Guests were not deterred by the change in venue and eagerly browsed, bought books, and noshed on appetizers by Catering by Debbi Covington, a local chef, and cookbook author. Patrons were introduced to each writer and engaged in one-on-one conversations with Cassandra King Conroy, Tell Me a Story: My Life with Pat Conroy; Donna Keel Armer, Solo in Salento; Pamela Terry, The Sweet Taste of Muscadines; Estelle Ford-Williamson, Rising Fawn; Sally Handley, Second Bloom; David James “Jamie” Poissant, Lake Life; Dana Ridenour, Behind the Mask; Melissa St. Clair, Home Work A Collection of Poems Sparked by One White Woman’s Journey on the Matter of Race; and Susan Beckham Zurenda, Bells for Eli.

Celebrating Harriet Tubman Day

A bonus for the walkers was the opportunity to witness a wreath-laying honoring Harriet Tubman at the site of a monument dedicated to her time in Beaufort. Harriet Tubman lived in Beaufort for nearly three (3) years during the Civil War, after leading the Combahee River Raid that freed over 750 enslaved persons, June 1863.

After a delicious box lunch readied by Herban Market and Cafe, small group tours rotated between The Gullah Art Gallery/Museum, where Dominique Tuttle, Art Curator/Gallery Manager, shared culture, and customs of the Gullah-Geechee, to

Pat Conroy’s Beaufort, a golf cart tour led by Beaufort Tours, marking sites related to Pat’s life in Beaufort; and an immersive tour of the Pat Conroy Literary Center led by executive director, Jonathan Haupt.

There was plenty of time to patronize the shops and dine at the many restaurants downtown each day.

Day 3. Take Me to Daufuskie

Much like in THE WATER IS WIDE, Pat Conroy commuted to his classroom by boat to the island he called, Yamacraw in the book, getaway guests took a ferry ride to Daufuskie and were met by one of Pat Conroy’s former students at Mary Field School, Sallie Ann Robinson.

A sixth-generation native of Daufuskie Island, Sallie Ann Robinson is an American cookbook author, celebrity chef, and cultural historian. She greeted new friends like family setting the tone for a delightful van tour with stops at the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church No. 2 and Billie Burn Museum and the First Union African Baptist Church where she sang gospel songs and had journeyers forming a line for departure for the next stop at the Mary Fields School building which is now home to local artisan shops.

Talented traveler, Donette tickled the ivories of the working organ at Mt. Carmel Church/Museum while two other travelers assisted with the foot pumps producing the first stanza of “Amazing Grace!”

Fried Chicken and Memory Lane

After a whirlwind tour with Sallie Ann, guests were treated to a homemade lunch with a menu of fried chicken, fried ribs, along with shrimp and potato salad, okra gumbo, and a mixed berry cobbler served under a centuries-old Oak. Sallie Ann swept us up in her stories and recollections of Pat Conroy until it was time to catch the ferry back to the mainland.

Dreams came true under the Spanish Moss for this poet, as she read a poem from her cookbook, “Sallie Ann Robinson’s Kitchen.”

Day 4. Front Porches and Friendships

After sipping sweet tea on the front porch, strolling in the garden where spring buds emerged or taking in the marsh view from the backyard dock, getaway guests were welcomed to brunch with true Southern hospitality, and another opportunity to engage in conversation with authors over brunch at a local historic home. While reveling inside, March winds and gray clouds took over the morning’s clear blue skies sending guests scrambling for warm layers. 

Friends of Pat Conroy Panel Discussion, Sponsored by the Beaufort Inn

Midday, getawayers made their way back to the Old Bay Marketplace for the next event in the trio of fundraisers. This panel discussion moderated by Donna Keel Armer, author of Solo in Salento, featured a lively exchange of stories shared by Pat Conroy’s literary agent Marly Rusoff, his Citadel classmates Scott Graber and John Warley, and his Beaufort High School student Valerie Sayers. Light refreshments were provided including specialties by Mary Martha Green, author of The Cheese Biscuit Queen Tells All. Patrons were smiling and saying, “cheese biscuits” for selfies and candids!

Books by Pat Conroy and the presenting authors were available for sale and signing. Books sales and donations help support the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center.

Farewell Dinner with a Surprise

A Lowcountry Boil dinner, with a special presentation, “Pat Conroy as Lifelong Learner” given by the Pat Conroy Literary Center executive director Jonathan Haupt and Beaufort High School interns Holland Perryman, Alisha Arora, and Millie Bennett was held at Celadon Club Wellness Center Clubhouse, wrapping up the trip and trio of fundraisers.

Let him eat cake!

No meal in the South is complete without dessert, which arrived in the form of a Pat Conroy book-themed birthday cake to celebrate Jonathan’s birthday!

Melissa St Clair is a group expert in Susie L McMahon’s Virtual Bookclub and Poet. Find more information about HOMEWORK and Melissa St Clair: https://paperchaserbiz.com/homework/

Photo Credits: Melissa St Clair, Beth Hawks, Jonathan Haupt