Australian Hiker is all about walking and when Jono Lineen, author of the book Perfect Motion, contacted me a few months ago to talk to talk about doing a review for his book ‘Perfect Motion’ it not only made sense to review thebook but also to interview him for the podcast as well. As a keen long distance hiker this book resonated with me in so many ways, particularly in the way that I feel when doing my big hikes. Perfect Motion was the culmination of his journey that was set in motion with the death of his younger brother, Gareth, eventually resulted in a 2700-kilometre solo trek across the Himalayas.
In this episode we talk to Jono about the impacts of walking and find out more about his amazing background, his trip though the Himalayas, as well as discussing his book Perfect Motion.
Podcast overview
This episode is all about the impact that walking has on us, our emotional and mental well-being, as well as our creativity:
Introduction
Part 1 – Interview with Jono Lineen (time index 00:01:22)
Jono’s background.
A world citizen
Initially an accomplished ski racer
Finding a job to fund a lifestyle
Varied career, forestry, project managemnt
Hiking background
Driven by a love of books
Provides a sense of happiness provided by a sense of control
A long walk in the Himalayas (2,700km)
Driven in part by the death of his younger brother
A cool thing to do
A 5 month trip
Planning
Pre GPS
No decent data available
Through areas in dispute, army presence from a number of countries
Passing though a village about every three days
Rice, dhal, rice, dhal, and for something different rice!
Kerosine cookers, kerosine is available anywhere
Accomodation 40% compassion from the locals, the rest in tent
Treat the water
Highlights
The people
The Book ‘Perfect Motion’
Always a big reader
A writer, this is Jono’s 3rd book
Stories are a part of his life
Written because an understanding that walking is more than just exercise
Relationship between walking and thinking
What is it about walking that makes us wiser
Predictive thinking, creating your own future
Generated though walking
Solo or in a group
Walking is an aid in problems solving (Humans are bipedal problem solvers)
Physiology, neurology, and physiology
Impact on our thought processes, our thinking loosens up and we now have space.
Under stress our thinking becomes stresses/focused. to break out of that walking becomes the catalyst
After a short period (about 15 minutes) we develop a senses of space. After about 40 minutes our though processes really start to open up.
‘Losing yourself’ is a mechanism to be creative. Walking helps its with this
The ‘best hunters’ are the most creative ones, an evolutionary process
Walking is good for the big picture and being alone is the best option
Convergent thinking- walking alone is not necessarily the best for that, great for walking meeting
Getting out there is the start
Walking solo doesn’t mean walking alone, it may be that you just take some space for a period of time and come together later on
Take notes if you want to remember as these thoughts are often your purest thoughts
90% of Jono’s ideas on his book came when he was walking or running
Long distance trails what happens when you stop?
Post trail blues
On long distance hikes you generate a purity of thought, of control. you are in one of the most controlled situations in your life.
When you stop the expansive thinking, you compress your life back into ‘normal life’, you loose that sense of freedom.
Is it the journey or the destination? Inward focused rather than outwards
Walking is addictive, provides a sense of space
Part 2 – Tim and Gill’s final thoughts (time index 00:46:21)
Close (time index 00:58:39)
Bloopers
Perfect Motion Book. Read our review of this book here
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Zanskar Range – Himalayas (photo by Jono Lineen)
Kyi gompa Tibetan Buddhist Monastery (photo by Jono Lineen)
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