In 1972, I bought a Bridgestone 200 "cafe racer" from Scrawny (aka Jack ). Hw had bought a Triumph Bonneville. Roommate Roman had acquired a Yamaha 125. On a beautiful Fall Saturday morning, Scrawny suggested riding to Highlands. Seemed like a good idea. I had been riding for maybe a year to class and around the Clemson area. Bolick and Leddon had been showing up in the Lakeview Terrace apartments' parking lot on Nortons and in Bellstaff jackets. I thought I was ready to join the big boys doing some mountain riding.

Don't remember the specifics of how and when we left. I had my blue metal-flake openface helmet, blue jean jacket and Frye boots. I guess we topped off someplace, and then headed up to Seneca on 123, right to Walhalla on 28. This was probably as far as I had ridden at this point in my motorcycling career.

Out of Walhalla, I was in sight of Scrawny but losing ground. Maybe we were together where 28 and 107 split so we knew where to go, but I don't remember.

The BS 200 sported a 250cc duel rotary valve engine with 5 speeds. It also sported a ribbed front tire with both tires being somewhat dubious. But I was riding my ride. No thought of knee dragging, but I was feeling a little sporty. I had been on this road a number of times on four wheels so I had an idea of what to expect.

Not that I can remember precisely, but I got to Highlands and Roman arrived shortly after and we parked the bikes. We looked around for Scrawny and the Triumph, but didn't see him. After a while, we decided to visit the police/fire station to see if he had been arrested or otherwise. Unfortunately, it was otherwise.

The police told us a motorcyclist had been picked up off the mountain and taken to hospital. So that's where we headed.

After confirming a motorcycle rider had been admitted and after sitting for a while, we were able to see and talk with Scrawny. He was in good spirits, but in a gurney and splinted up pretty thoroughly.

Roman and I decided at that point that is was time to head to the house. We rode out of HIghlands with me in the lead. By the time we got to Walhalla it was dark. Out of Walhalla before Bountyland, Roman's Yamaha decided to foul a plug. We found a accommodating resident to shelter the bike, and we rode two up through the evening chill to Clemson. But before we got to Seneca, a ambulance passed us no doubt carrying Scrawny to Oconee Medical Center.

We considered ourselves lucky to get back to Lakeview Terrace.

Later, I found out that Scrawny had crashed at "Jaws", a decreasing radius turn on 28. His Triumph had solid mounted footpegs which no doubt grounded out and launched him off the turn into the trees. He was able to crawl up the slope and luckily flag down an off duty EMT who was driving by.

Spent a lot of time with Scrawny during his rehabilitation, including apartment wheelchair gymkhanas. I know he graduated from Clemson, but I don't know if he rode motorcycles again.

My first motorcycle ride to Highlands did not stop me from continuing to enjoy riding and improve my skills.

Posted 3/3/07 by Lewis "Captain" Kirk