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.
In 2014 we hadn’t planned on a US trip, but after Raylene’s brother Kevin’s health scare we decided not to put things off. A cheap fare sealed it, and with Ryan joining us, we set off on 14 March for a month away. We began in LA with Maria and Charlie, then Ryan flew to Chicago while we road-tripped Illinois and Missouri — highlights included quilt shops, Lincoln’s museum, and the Frank Wilcox Film Festival where I met Jerry Mathers from Leave It to Beaver. Back in LA we caught The Big Bang Theory taping, then began a scenic loop through Arizona, Colorado, and Utah — Monument Valley, Mesa Verde, Arches, and the Million Dollar Highway. We finished with family time in Cedar City and Las Vegas.
Our 2013 USA trip was a wonderful mix of travel, family, friends, and a few quirks along the way. Flying out on Good Friday, we covered plenty of ground — from LA and Big Bear Lake, through Las Vegas and Cedar City, and up to Salt Lake City for a highlight: Bon Jovi live. Rayls made the most of countless quilt shops, while I kept a running tally of Walmart trucks! Time with Amy and Steve in Cedar City was especially memorable — pickleball, movies, lake days, and plenty of laughs. Catching up with Scott and Shannon in Vegas and later LA was another highlight. We wrapped up with Maria and Charlie’s warm hospitality. A special trip, shared with special people.
The October–November 2012 Quilt Bash was a special adventure for our group, though Cheryl’s absence was keenly felt. Flying Perth–Melbourne–LA, we pushed on immediately to Houston, where the ladies immersed themselves in Quilt Festival classes and stalls while Ryan and I road-tripped to Memphis and Dallas. Reunited in Houston, we even witnessed President George H.W. Bush at a Texans game. From there, our East Coast loop included Amish country in Lancaster, a snow-dusted visit to Keepsake Quilting in New Hampshire, and emotional stops at New York’s 9/11 Memorial and Washington, DC landmarks. Finally, we headed west again — Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, the Bellagio, and Los Angeles. The Quilt Bash combined friendship, fabric, history, and unforgettable American moments.
Our March–April 2012 trip was a wonderful blend of sightseeing, music, and family time. We started in Los Angeles with the Queen Mary, Griffith Observatory, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Venice, and Universal Studios before heading to Las Vegas. The Strip, Fremont Street, Jersey Boys, and Cirque du Soleil’s Elvis were real highlights. From there, San Diego gave us the Zoo, SeaWorld, Balboa Park, and the coast. A special night came with the Buddy Holly Story tribute — a fantastic show we’ll long remember. Best of all was time with Cath and Chris, catching up and sharing plenty of laughs. The mix of glitter, beaches, history, and family made this trip truly memorable and one of our most enjoyable journeys.
Our second 2011 adventure began with late-night flights via Kuala Lumpur and Taipei before landing in LA on Halloween, navigating jet lag, rental cars, and quirky Target runs. Rayls quickly found her stride at the Houston International Quilt Festival, a lifelong dream — two exhausting but exhilarating days surrounded by quilts and inspiration. From there, Vegas provided concerts galore: the Eagles and Barry Manilow, both bucket-list moments. A camping detour with Amy and Steve at Nevada’s Valley of Fire gave us red-rock landscapes, campfires, and S’mores — far from our comfort zone but unforgettable. Cedar City offered warmth, friendship, and snow, while LA wrapped up the trip with history at Nixon’s Library and laughter at a Last Man Standing taping with Tim Allen.
This section of the 2011 Hartman Travels diary traces a road trip from Southern California up through Oregon and Washington, into Canada, and back across to Utah. It blends long drives on I-5 with spontaneous detours to places like Lodi and Roslyn, told with humour and curiosity. Natural highlights stand out—Mount Shasta, Multnomah Falls, Ruby Beach, and Zion National Park—contrasting with quirkier moments such as towns named Weed, quilt-shop “man caves,” and laundromats warning against horse blankets. In Victoria, the buzz of hockey season sets the tone, while Cedar City brings pickleball, friendly company, and a slower pace. Together, these stories capture both the grandeur of landscapes and the lighter, everyday details that made the journey memorable.
In April–June 2010, we journeyed from Las Vegas through Florida, up the East Coast, and across the western states. We explored Vegas’ iconic hotels, fountains, and shows, then visited friends Jim and Bette in Florida, including a trip to the Kennedy Space Center. A scenic road trip took us through Savannah, South Carolina, and up to Lake Tahoe, where quilt shopping, mountain views, and snowy peaks impressed us. Continuing west, we drove across Nevada to Cedar City, Utah, enjoying friends, craft stores, and quiet days. The final leg returned us to Las Vegas for shows, shopping, and sightseeing before flying home via LA and Sydney. Across five weeks, we drove over 2,100 miles, creating lasting memories and plenty of stories.
Scott and I (Gaz) had a whirlwind 2009 USA road trip packed with cities, sights, and experiences. We kicked off in Las Vegas, sampling over-the-top burgers at the Heart Attack Grill and exploring the Strip. Cedar City offered a quieter pace, with snowball fights, fabric shops, and catching up with friends. Dallas brought history with Dealey Plaza and the Sixth Floor Museum, while Houston thrilled us with Wrestlemania and Monday Night RAW. In Washington DC, we explored memorials, museums, and solo adventures, then soaked up New York’s energy—Broadway, Ground Zero, the Empire State Building, and endless pizza. The West Coast included San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, Lake Tahoe’s mountains, and arena football in Stockton. LA wrapped up the trip with theme parks, Dodgers baseball, and last-minute shopping—a truly unforgettable adventure for Scott and me.
In April–May 2008, we embarked on our fourth USA trip, driving over 6,000 miles through 28 states. Highlights included spending time with friends: Jim and Bette in Greenwood, Eileen and Phil near St. Louis, Nichole and Jonny in Minneapolis, and Amy, Steve, and Daniel in Cedar City. We explored Shenandoah National Park, Amish country near Lancaster, Niagara Falls, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, and Minneapolis’s Mall of America. Challenges included illness in Dallas, noisy hotels, and long stretches of driving, but excellent service, memorable meals, and comfortable stays—especially at the MGM Grand, Days Inns, and with friends—made it worthwhile. Wildlife, scenic drives, concerts, baseball, and quirky roadside experiences rounded out a rich, unforgettable journey.
Hartman Travels
Gary and Raylene Hartman
Dawesville, Western Australia