In looking back, I think that all the years growing up in the outdoors with little direct supervision started to play out the day Darold and I were looking at the bulletin board in the hallway of our high school. Darold was and still is my good friend and we both liked science and math. We did however find time for other activities during the school year. On many occasions we went trout fishing early in the morning, catching some nice trout and then going on to school.
It was our senior year and we had no ideas for going on to college since both of our families had little money and had not mentioned college to either of us. Going on to college was not a common practice then and the subject did not occupy much time in student gatherings.
As usual, the bulletin board was crammed with announcements, but there was one new one on the board and it was an invitation to apply for a scholarship at Michigan College of Mining and Technology in Houghton, Michigan. Now for those of you who do not know where this town is located, let me tell you. It is located on the Keweenaw Peninsula, the point of land that juts into Lake Superior. It is so far north that it only has two seasons. One is winter and the other is two weeks of poor skiing.
We both applied for the scholarships and we both received one. $500. I elected Chemical Engineering, Darold elected Electrical Engineering. We thought is was great to be able to learn these professions and at the same time to be in country where the hunting and fishing were so good.
Now here's where our unstructured childhood experiences paid off in creativity, boldness and the ability to take the opportunity presented.
Darold and I spent a few weeks that summer building a row boat. Darold then cut off the rear part of the body of his 1946 Chevrolet in order to make the car into a truck to transport the boat.
When the time for fall semester arrived, we were ready. Our minds tuned to the challenge and we departed with this old car, boat and each with a suitcase of clothes. Mothers and Dads said goodbye waiving to us as we left the driveway in Ada, Michigan for the 500 mile trip to Houghton, crossing the Straits of Michigan on a ferry (no bridge yet) and on through the upper peninsula of Michigan.
We made it in one drive and to this day, I do not recall having phoned my parents that we had arrived safely. They knew we would arrive in good shape, after all, they taught us how to deal with all the problems we might face on this trip.
