The alarm went off at 4 and we were out by 530, two microwaved Jimmy Dean plant-based sausage “McMuffins” in our bellies each, along with a half yogurt and a half coffee each (we shared them). Neither of us felt particularly strong this morning, despite having just had a relaxing rest day in Dillon. My saddle was too high and the leather too taut and was causing me saddle pain again. I’ve been having a lot of saddle troubles because of a seatpost that slowly slips down, so I’m every other day or so having to raise it back up to regain comfort. My saddle also has a leather tensioner bolt and if I have the bolt set so that the leather is too tight or too slack, I get chafing, pain, and sometimes saddle sores. And my saddle is broken so it loses its tension adjustment randomly. All those variables have been hard to control so I just struggle keeping things in the right place for maximal butt comfort. I’m totally getting a new saddle when I get home and am not sure I’ll get the same brand again…and if I get a different brand it will be a long process of trialing saddles and changing bike fit adjustments since all saddles have different length/width/height dimensions. That is why I haven’t ordered a new one during the trip and I’m just continuing to deal with the aforementioned saddle frustrations. Anyway, we left Dillon before sunrise and watched the sun come over the beautiful Montana mountains when we were just a couple miles outside of town. Soon we began the first long, gradual ascent of the day (there were to be two) and it was a drag. My ass hurt and I kept having to shift positions on the bike and that kept my mind from feeling my normal hill-climbing enjoyment. Finally at the top of the ~10 mile climb, I got out my multitool and adjusted the saddle downward. When V reached me, we flew down the other side and began the ~ 15-mile trek across a broad, flat valley and my saddle discomfort was a little better but not great. Pushing through that valley led to the second climb of the day, a bit steeper but also a couple of miles shorter. The peak of the second climb is the summit of Big Hole Pass, at 7400’ elevation. At the peak while I waited just a few minutes for V to arrive, I adjusted the saddle leather tensioner bolt to give more slack in the saddle and as we rolled down the other side, I felt like I’d made a noticeable improvement in my comfort. Everything else feels great, strong and painless, so if I can just keep the saddle pain and chafing/sores under control I’ll be fine. We rolled a fairly easy 11 miles into Jackson but sadly the Jackson Hot Springs Lodge was not open for either a hot cup of coffee or a hot pool soak. But the kind lady at the only other restaurant in town let us fill our water bottles and we got right back on the road toward our destination of Wisdom, 18 miles away. We didn’t want to linger because we had at that moment a 10-15 mph tailwind pushing us down the gentle decline in the roadway, and there are thunderstorms expected later today in Wisdom so that great tailwind is also bringing a potential dousing if we’re dawdling. Well, we didn’t dawdle and Mother Nature was on our side…we made the 18 miles and arrived in Wisdom in just one hour! The Antlers Saloon was the only thing open so we went in and got a 12” veggie pizza to share and figured out our lodging plans for the evening while one of the other bar patrons and I took turns playing classic rock and country songs on the jukebox. Because of the HEAVY mosquitoes here, we decided not to camp and instead grabbed a room at the Nez Perce Motel for $89 including tax. Showers. Chamois washing. 10-minute nap. Writing this summary. And now we’re watching House reruns again, like we did on a rest day back in a Kentucky motel weeks and weeks ago. V just ate a chocolate muffin and spoonfuls of peanut butter for an early dinner. We’re gonna go to bed at 7 because we’re dead tired after sleeping only about 5 hours last night due to the fireworks that kept us awake on Independence Day. We’ll get a solid night of sleep tonight and and get up early at 4 am, leaving by 530 to climb up and over Chief Joseph Pass and then head downhill north toward Hamilton, about 73 miles away from here.