Welcome to the World Travels of Gary and Raylene Hartman
From their home in Perth, Western Australia, Gary and Raylene embark on adventures near and far
sharing stories, sights, and special moments from around the globe.
Click on the red buttons to go to each trip
Gary and Rayls embark on another memorable journey to the United States, reconnecting with cherished friends in Utah and Los Angeles while venturing into new territory across the Pacific Northwest. This trip includes a scenic road trip through Washington, Idaho, and Montana—filled with incredible landscapes, nostalgic moments, and a few unexpected challenges. From laughter-filled reunions to breathtaking drives and the occasional bump in the road, this adventure had it all.
A challenging UK trip marked by early Covid setbacks and a heart scare, forcing hospital stays and rest days. Despite illness, we explored York, Edinburgh, the Scottish Highlands, the Lake District, and Birmingham for the First Ashes Test. London highlights included Windsor Castle, ABBA Voyage, Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, and a birthday theatre night. Long drives, scenic stops, and historic sites balanced with much-needed downtime. The journey ended with a smooth Heathrow departure, grateful for the memories despite the hurdles.
From 20 February to 6 March 2019, the trip spanned seven flights, four aircraft types, and over 1,400 kilometres of driving across California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. Highlights included a smooth red-eye from Perth to Melbourne, a long but calm A380 crossing to Los Angeles, scenic snow-covered landscapes at Cedar Breaks, and the buzz of Las Vegas. Encounters ranged from NHL action in Los Angeles to quiet plane spotting at LAX. There were delays—most notably the missed Perth connection in Sydney—but also efficiency, comfort, and plenty of good food. In total: 34 airborne hours, five hotels, and one fridge left behind in Perth.
Our March–April 2018 USA trip covered 4,726 km by road across California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and into the redwood forests. Despite Qantas seat dramas and a post-op shoulder limiting my driving, we enjoyed smooth flights and easy border processes. Highlights included Bon Jovi in Vegas, time with Amy and Steve in Cedar City, scenic drives through Utah, snow-capped mountains, and the stunning Avenue of the Giants. There were mishaps—traffic snarls, tyre pressure woes, and a few disappointing meals—but also memorable moments like meeting Dawn Wells, exploring Gardner Village, and visiting Westwood Memorial Park. Great trip, great friends, and always good to come home.
Our 2017 USA road trip was a fantastic mix of adventure, relaxation, and reconnecting with friends. From the deserts of Arizona and Nevada to Utah’s scenic Cedar City, we enjoyed quiet days with Amy and Steve, interspersed with sightseeing and shopping. Las Vegas offered walking, shows, and people-watching, while Memphis and the Missouri Star Quilt Company delighted Rayls. Road trips through Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri brought charming towns, quilt shops, and cultural stops like the Truman Library and Superman Museum. The journey ended in Los Angeles with tombstone tourism and family visits, finishing smoothly with flights home to Perth.
Our 2016 adventure was one for the books. The journey from Perth to Los Angeles turned into a marathon of delays and missed connections, with unexpected detours through Sydney and Dallas. By the time we finally arrived in LA, we had clocked up more than 30 hours of travel, but the excitement of the trip ahead kept us going.
Highlights came thick and fast: celebrating our 40th anniversary, seeing John Fogerty light up the Vegas stage, walking through history at Dealey Plaza in Dallas, and watching Olivia Newton-John perform at the Flamingo. We spent snowy days in Cedar City with Amy and Steve, shared birthday surprises, and reconnected with old friends.
There were challenges too — illness slowed us down, and the heartbreaking loss of Hunter cast a shadow — but the trip was filled with moments of laughter, music, friendship, and memories that will stay with us forever.
Our 2015 Europe trip was all about family, history, and making memories. Eldest son Ryan came along and after saying our goodbyes in Perth, the Etihad flights went smoothly and soon we were catching up with loved ones in Brussels and Hilversum. We explored windmills at Zaanse Schans, soaked up Berlin’s landmarks, and had some really moving moments at Dachau, the WWI memorials in Verdun and the Somme, and the Menin Gate in Ypres. London was a mix of fun and nostalgia with Abbey Road, Lord’s, and the big royal sights, while Paris gave me a few headaches. Between reunions, sightseeing, and plenty of reflection, it was a trip we won’t forget.
Hartman Travels
Gary and Raylene Hartman
Dawesville, Western Australia