We left Thunderbolt Marina with our complimentary Krispy Cremes and once again headed North. Our original goal was to stop and experience Hilton Head, however, due to the Verizon PGA Golf Tournament they had hiked the price up to $10.00 per foot. So we continued through Port Royal sound to Beaufort South Carolina. Beaufort is another historic town rich with history from the days of "King Cotton" and the Civil War. We stayed at the downtown Beaufort marina, and enjoyed seeing the georgeous spring flowers, historic antibellum homes and Saint Helena Island, home of several former plantations. After the Union Army occupied Beaufort in 1861, using it as a strategic port for the southern blockade, 10,000 slaves were later given their freedom. The Penn school was founded on St. Helena in the late 1800's, to teach the freed men to read, write and fend for themselves, continuing to operate until 1948 when South Carolina took over the public education for the sea islands. We enjoyed seeing several plantations and an old "Praise House" where the slaves were allowed to worship in their own way three times a week. An elderly black gentleman, Mr. Middleton, who actually prayed here, sang one of the original hymns.
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