A large crowd of onlookers gathered at the boat launch at Grand Marais Recreational Park on Thursday evening, June 27, to view a colorful hot-air balloon. Gary and Cindy Whitby, in a generous gesture, brought their hot air balloon to town and offered free rides to the community. The couple had coordinated with the Grand Marais Municipal Rec Park board in advance, and the evening unfolded without a hitch, with about 75 individuals taking to the skies, stopping at a height of about 50 feet. The colorful hot air balloon, which Gary has named Deja Blu, was tethered, and it wasn't windy, so it was a perfect evening for giving rides. Now living in Columbia, Missouri, Gary grew up in St. Louis and watched the Great Forest Park Balloon Race for years, vowing to own his own hot air balloon one day. In 1996, he made that purchase, and since then, he has competed in hot-air balloon competitions at the U.S. Nationals and in competitions in Mexico. Gary takes people for rides back in Missouri, and he has never had any accidents or mishaps in his many years as a hot-air balloon pilot. Staff photo Brian Larsen
