When I was 10 I used to take our “jon” boat (a flat bottom aluminum 12’ boat w/ 6HP 2 stroke motor) up the creek we lived on with our dog, Sam. And I usually had a BB gun with me. I could be miles away from home, walking in the woods at any point along the creek ... the only indication I would give about where I would be is “up” or “down” the creek.
I am pretty sure this is Felony ‘child endangerment’ nowadays ...
Myself, at my parents summer home, in the morning I took my 14’ inflatable (Zodiac) with a 55 HP outboard and they wouldn’t see me until I had to leave for home. One time, my mom didn’t see me for 4 days...
Tom Sawyer... Huck Finn...