2days in and Im stoked because Coral turns out to be the PANTONE color of 2019 so here’s to my Sooo Bored tshirts in coral! and those fab people who have them out there being trend setters. May the New Year bring everyone laughter, growth and friendship xthj 
Image by The Peachy Rebel
Grunters carpark is my favourite carpark in the south west, Western Australia. I’m very attached to peninsula vistas, having grown up for a bit on the edge of one in Palos Verdes, California. And the south western coastline of Western Australia has been my home for 10 years now. We shot in between rain showers at the tail end of Winter 2018.
Back in the beginnings of Tarhairedjack I realised that this particular carpark was taking a special place in my life and my ideas. I spend a bit of time here. I love the car parks curved lines, the asphalt, the color mix of nature and human made, the half finished curbs and then there’s the view.
I asked the talented eye, Kendra Benson Photography, to help me realise it’s potential. The local boys/models graciously donated their time in exchange for hoods and tees and photos. And thanks to the boss who ‘lent’ me one of them.
And the no stopping in the photo above is perfect. Local Surfers stop their cars here to check out the surf to the south all the time but what I see is the metaphorical of no stopping…no stopping in this Tarhairedjack art and life journey. No stopping in this life only continual seeking, joining and stepping off.
From this asphalt the barely civilised world drops away and to the south is a forever view. The carpark is raw with its edges finishing and leading to tracks though dune hills to coveted surf breaks and beaches. Here is where you leave to join a wilderness of water.
And this carpark is a meeting place of like minds. I’ve discussed surf, art, trauma, sharks, trashy tv, childhoods and sold hoods, whilst watching for the sets to define themselves as worthy of any effort to join them. Sometimes the conversations too good and it takes awhile. xthj
Notes from smalltownsurfcountry
The sun has finally come out today after two weeks which has seen hail and more hail, several severe weather warnings, then more rain, westerlies for days and now a southerly.
And I forgot my hood! So I put a 1ml Mattus rashie over my 4/3 and was toasting. The strong current running through Huzzas made for a lot of paddling which is also good for warmth. I switched off for a moment a few times and took a few on the head- you know when your mate laughs and says ‘yeah I saw you get nailed’. Lesson to self – FOCUS !
A lot of People leave town here for at least some part of winter, so if you find yourself in Bali or Gnarloo surrounded by Margaret River people it’s because if they don’t odds are they’ll have a vitaminD deficiency by the end of winter.
Two more shops are set to close soon on the Main Street as surviving through another winter was too economically challenging and right now Western Australia is up there for mortgage defaults so the money isn’t going around. Most people perceive Margaret River to be a well to do place, rich in natural beauty is more the case.
And we have whooping cough, with at least eight cases reported. So between the sharks, the economic downturn, the weather and clusters of disease the waves are not so crowded.
So long xthj
Tarhairedjack toons and draws 