Dearest Matilda,
How I loved the ride today, despite the rain.
It was 74 miles, but there was no pain.
We were close when we embarked on Main.
And finally made it to Chamberlain.

Yesterday we had a rest day in Mitchell. We had a hospital visit, which was really cool. We learned a lot about radiation therapy, and saw state-of-the-art equipment/machinery. The hospital guide was extremely intelligent, and generous-she even gave us a comb/mirror/lint remover!
We also spent a decent amount of our time at the Corn Palace. It's the world's only, you know!
For dinner, a man came to the school and grilled for us, which was awesome since we did not have access to the kitchen.

As the poem stated, now were in Chamberlain. Our ride was easy even though it was rainy. We're lounging at a cafe in town, but nervous about the near future in which Zernyu and Matt Cady are on cooking duty!

Yours Truly,
General Ernest T. Cornwell  (The Illini 4000 invisible rider from the civil war era)

The I4K crossed into yet another state today, South Dakota.  Once again, the wind was rough, but not as bad as the previous two days.  We are staying at Zion Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, who provided us with a great dinner, that really hit the spot after riding 94 miles in the wind and heat.  We ride 77 miles tomorrow, and then a well needed rest day.

Today's ride from Albert Lea, MN to Jackson, MN was a fun filled ride of 85 miles.  The ride gave us a great opportunity to ride against ~20 miles per hour headwinds that left us winded...literally.  Tomorrow, we are headed to the wonderful land of South Dakota.

I4k friends and families:  Want to send your loved one / best friend / favorite rider a care package or things they need from home?  Send it to Rapid City, South Dakota!   We'll be arriving on July 6 and having a rest day there the next day, so make sure you have it sent out soon!

Write your packages / letters out to:

[Name of rider]
Care of: General Delivery
Rapid City, SD 57701

Please allow at least 3 business days for letters and Priority Mail packages.  It'll show up at the main post office in Rapid City, and we'll pick it up on July 7.  In return, eternal gratitude from your rider out west!  Thanks!

Well today we had a rest day. It seems like we kinda don't know what to do on rest days...so we ride our bikes! We all woke up some time around 11 but the few of us who were up earlier went out to braekfast at this crazy pancake house that was called Pankuken, which is apparently a Dutch pancake. It wasn't too bad - real good breakfast. After that we all did our own things, some went to the pool, others hung around the church, others slept some more. But for dinner we went to kingdom buffet. (Lordy, we ate waaaay to much!) We all agreed that the ride back to the church was the worst ride of the trip. With our bellies overflowing with food we nursed ourselves back to being just full and rested easy, patiently awaiting the supposed 20mph headwind the next day. 

When we got out to the van this morning the fog was so thick that we couldn’t see across the street. By the time we left it had cleared up slightly. The effect of the fog was really quite enchanting. That seems to be the right word for it. The large rolling hills were shrouded by the fog, which turned them into large silhouettes in the distance. When the fog cleared up the sun came out, and with the sun came the heat. It looks like the heat is here to stay, but with only one day left until or next rest day our spirits are up.

Today the I4K rode another day in intense heat. With the temperature at the bank we passed reading 87 degrees at 7:30A.M. it was sure to be a difficult day. We logged 67 miles in the Wisconsin hills, so much for those nice flat plains. Upon arriving at the stayover in Reedsvill, Wisconsin, we were informed that we were standing in the midst of the butter capitol of the World. This town even has a festival to celebrate all of its buttery goodness. Overall today was a fantastic day to ride with no major problems. Looks like we've gotten all our bikes tuned up and ready to roll.

This ride in many ways will parallel the rest of our lives, some moments will be fantastic, others difficult, and the worst will be unbearable. Whether we like it or not we are going to get a taste of all of them, so it’s best if we take each moment, and each ride for what it is. We will be grateful of the good rides, prepared for the difficult ones, and patient during the worst. In the end if we take these moments for what they are and not what they could or should be, then we might learn something about ourselves from each.

For so long we have been in new places every night, and every morning we have been heading to some other unfamiliar place. From Homewood, however, many of us had home to look forward to.

The day began with an ominous forecast, with warnings of violent storms and eventually some tornado watches. For once we did not attract every storm cloud in the area and instead only saw the lightening and rain in the distance. Like so many other days, we had some difficulties with directions but the increasingly urban landscape and the eventual sight of Lake Michigan indicated that we were headed in the general direction of the city.

As we approached the final trail of the day the lead group of riders ran into some construction on the street bike path. As they rounded some construction barriers they passed over large metal plates which proved to be extremely slick. The first pack called out the hazard as they nearly crashed but it wass to no avail, as Megan took a nasty spill requiring some dental repair. We were all amazed and impressed when she wanted to keep riding but insisted that she wait for the van to pick her up. We're glad to say that she is back to having a perfect smile.

Arriving in Millenium Park was a sweet moment for us all, with many families there to greet their riders and PB&J sandwiches all around. After some group photos and warm welcomes home the riders headed to either stay at the UIC dorms or with their families in the Chicago area. It was great to be home, even if only for a day.

After a relaxing day in Chicago the I4K hosted a ride-a-long from Millenium Park to Highland Park, allowing friends and family to join us on our brief 30 mile ride. It was a wonderful chance for others to get a taste for what we do from day to day. The ride was mostly on bike paths that followed the Metra tracks which made it a really stress free day. We ended the ride at the Metra station where another charity group, Team in Training, was ending a race. It was a wonderful chance for us to connect with another organization and we thank them for their words of encouragement and the two enormous bags of bagels that they donated.

Today we left Chicago on a beautiful day for riding, heading northwest towards Wisconsin. The route was fantastic, consisting mostly of beautiful trails and scenic roads. While it was an extremely hot day, we had the relief of a refreshing swim in the Fox Lake thanks to the Tully family at our lunch stop. For once we didn't have to eat out of the back of the van, instead getting a fabulous lunch provided for us. Thanks!

The last 30 miles of the day were a breeze thanks to the incredible mid-day break and the promise of another swim at Lake Geneva. Arriving at the Topol family lake house, many riders headed to the lake right away. After a hot day of riding, there is nothing like a dip in the lake and synchronised diving to bring you back to life. As if the day couldn't get any better, the Topol and Volkman families provided us with a great dinner. Tomorrow we really begin our westward journey!

Tomorrow, Sunday June 21st is the date of our ride-along where we invite parents, supporters, and other interested cyclists to ride along with us for the day.  The details are as follows.

When does it start?  meet at 8:30 a.m.  The ride departs at 9:00 a.m. sharp, weather pending (the forecast calls for 83 and sunshine, however!)  We anticipate the ride will take about four to five hours with breaks.
Where should we meet?  meet by the the Bean in Millennium Park.  There is ample parking underneath the park and many transit options for getting into downtown. 
Where are we going? The ride will end at the Highland Park Metra station, 1800 St. Johns Ave.  There are trains departing at 2:30, 4:30, and 5:30 back into the city.  In Evanston, you can take either the Metra or the 'L' back into the city.
How are we getting there? We'll be riding up the Lakefront path, then winding our way through the beautiful Edgewater and Rogers Park neighborhoods and the North Shore suburbs.  We will be riding mostly on signed bike trails and less-heavily trafficked urban streets.  Directions and transit information will be provided.
Other details:  Please bring a helmet, we will not allow you to ride without one!  You do not need a fancy road bike to ride along with us.  Make sure your bike is in good mechanical condition.  Donations are very appreciated.

We hope to see you there! Have a great weekend!

Ah, has it been good to be home in our home state. We have experienced both the good and the bad of the plains. Yesterday we had a late start because we could not part with our beloved Champaign-Urbana. We finally got on the road and had the great experience of riding with Geoff, one of our VIP supporters and first year rider Brain. While the flat land has been great we have encountered another villain, the unrelenting and gutsing wind. We had somewhat of a headwind, making our legs work extra hard on flat land. On the other hand we have also found out that Illinois is the hardest state to get lost, go grid system!!! When we got into Clifton we had the luxury of going to the public pool across the street and had some fun watching each other flail off the high diving board. We were quite a sight with stark tan lines and white bellies, look out for a possible Illini4000 calender!!! Don't worry we won't actually subject you to that.
As for today our requests for good weather was answered!!!! We woke to the frightening sound of thunder and lightening, not a promising start... But we forged ahead and got ready, ate breakfast and tooka quick nap while waiting for the storm to pass. In a half hour we decieded to begin the ride when low and behold, the rain stopped and the sun began to break, woo hooo! The rest of he day turned out to be calm and relaxing and we arrived in Homewood around 1. We were greeted by the mayor of Homewood and were given free Coldstone. We were also warmly welcome by rider Jesse's mom Mrs. Krantzler, friends and members of Faith Lutheran Church. The boys went to the pool making a ruckus on the slide. Later in the night members of the church made us a delicious dinner, filled with pasta  goodness, dessert and fried chicken, hungry yet? We then got to experience the great neighborhood of Jesse and were greeted by neighbors, family and even more food. Dinner 2! Overall Homeood has felt like home but we are all excited to visit Chicago, the real home to many of us.
Lastly a reminder that we will be riding into Millenium Park tomorrow at noon if anyone would like to give us a large welcome. Also, on Sunday we have our friends and family ride along, for all biking levels, to Highland park.

sending our love,
the illini 4000

Today the team rides out from our dear Alma Mater and heads up on a two-day trek to Chicago through the prairie and suburbs alike.  The ride this Friday will conclude with a ride up the lake shore and conclude in the heart of downtown.

If you're in the area and want to support the team, come out to Millennium Park at noon on Friday for our arrival.  We'll be finishing off the day by going down Michigan Avenue - look for us as we enter the park at the intersection of Michigan and Madison avenues.

Sunday the team will be departing from Millennium Park at 9 a.m. as we ride out to Highland Park up the Lakefront, through  the Edgewater and Rogers Park neighborhoods, Evanston, and the North Shore communities.  If you would like to ride 30 of our 4000 miles and experience a day in the life of the Illini 4000, we invite you to come along!   Meet at the Cloud Gate sculpture (also known as 'the Bean') by 8:30 a.m.  We look forward to riding with you!

We interrupt this journal post for some exciting news about our Champaign-Urbana arrival on Tuesday, June 16th:

The team will be arriving at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center (601 S. Lincoln in Urbana, 1 block south of Illinois St.) at 3 p.m.  Come out and cheer us on as we parade down Lincoln Avenue!  If you'd like to join our ride for 16 of our 4000 miles, ride out to the Nature Center at Homer Lake by 1:30 p.m. to catch the team rolling through (or meet us on Main St. in Homer before then - look for the Illini 4000 support van) .  Bring your helmet, a water bottle, and a sense of adventure and excitement!

And just to give you a heads up for the weekend:  The team will be riding into Millennium Park at noon on Friday.  Our ride-along will take place this Sunday at 9 a.m.  Join us at Millennium Park as we roll out of the city and into Highland Park.  Check back for more details!

We now take you back to our normally scheduled journal post, already in progress:

We left the Bartholomew household this morning well rested and well fed, bound for Rockville, Indiana but looking forward to our homecoming in Champaign tomorrow. After being on the road so long and passing through unfamiliar places, the thought of a place as familiar as Champaign feels like home. 

On our way out of town, the group rode into downtown Indianapolis to see the Soldiers and Sailors Monument before heading westward.  With tomorrow on our minds, the day\'s ride seemed to be a short one and we effortlessly arrived at our stayover in Rockville.  Rockville incidentally has the best and biggest ice cream cones we\'ve had on this trip so far, courtesy of the Dairy Barn. 

Many thanks to two special people we met along today\'s route.  First, to Mark Bailey of Magnode Corp., who offered water, snacks, and facilities to one group of riders as they changed a tire.  Second, to Roussa (sorry if we\'ve butchered your name), who kindly donated to the Illini 4000 while we stopped for lunch between Greenwood and Rockville.  Thanks to you both. 

On the last day of our 10-day riding spree, the whole team rode out together from Richmond, IN for a much-anticipated rest day with the Bartholomew family in Greenwood. We've emerged from the mountains as stronger riders, and even after our epic 110 mile ride we were all feeling in great shape. With the miles slipping away effortlessly under our wheels in the flatlands, we were able to ride as a single pack most of the way for the first time.  We also finally rode a millennium, breaking 1000 miles.  When we finally arrived en masse at Daniel's house, we found a paradise awaiting us: a giant welcome sign, a tent with 22 beds in the back yard, a pond, and food already on the grill. This was certainly going to be the best stayover ever.

Immediately upon arriving, we headed straight for the pond and found two paddle boats. The only logical conclusion to unwind after a long day of riding was to hop in the boats and have an epic pirate battle. Other than pond piracy, highlights from the Bartholomew house include phenomenal (and free) ice cream at Mrs. Curl's courtesy of John Cassin, karaoke the likes of which have never before been seen in Greenwood (watch for a YouTube link soon), lounging on the patio or by the pond, unbelievable amounts of fantastic food, and more late-night karaoke with Mr. and Mrs. Bartholomew. The man has some pipes.

We slept in late on our rest day (8:30 is late these days), enjoyed biscuits and gravy for breakfast and passed the day watching movies, swimming in a neighbor's pool, and tuning up bikes for tomorrow when we must sadly leave this wonderland. Mr. and Mrs. Bartholomew treated the team to Mexican food and sundaes, putting a sweet cap on a sweet rest day. Tomorrow, we head out to Rockville, IN to find what surprises and gems await us next. Many thanks to the Bartholomews!

Today the team had their longest ride ever of the summer. We finished the 110 mile journey from Columbus, Ohio to Richmond, Indiana. We were all pleasantly surprised by the ease with which we rode of the relatively flat terrain. After the ride, the team was greeted by te wonderful people of the First English Lutheran Church. They provided us with delicious hot food and great hot showers. Some of the riders took advantage of the cable TV to sustain their SportsCenter fix and are also excited to watch The Game tonight in the comfort of the Church.

Tomorrow's ride is a relatively shorter ride of 95 miles followed by the much anticipated rest day in Greenwood, Indiana.

Tune in next time.

The team woke up ready for a nice short 55 mile ride to Columbus.  Cloudy skies greeted us early and shortly into the ride, we were in a pretty steady downpour.  Luckily, the ride was short and the temperatures were mild enough to make it a decent ride. 

The entirety of the team arrived by early afternoon to our stayover at Broad Street United Methodist Church in downtown Columbus.  After some free time in the afternoon we received an amazing meal from the Columbus U of I Alumni with some amazing cupcakes provided by Mrs. Erikson, a mother of a former rider.

Tomorrow is gonna be wild.  We will encounter our first century ride, with a 110 mile ride to Richmond, Indiana, taking us across all of Ohio in two and a half days.  Though we will leave behind the beauty of the mountains of PA and rolling hills of Ohio, we are all looking forward to some flat rides through the cornfields of the Midwest.

Tune in next time.

Today's ride took us from Cadiz, OH to Zanesville, OH which was a distance of about 65 miles.  The ride today was pretty smooth compared to most days, we had smooth roads the whole way, the weather stayed nice until the very end, and the whole team made it in to our destination by about 2PM, so it was a shorter day.  We are also happy to see that the mountains still seem to be receding behind us and we think that the worst of the hills are behind us (at least until the Rockie!).  We are staying the night at the Central Presbyterian Church in Zanesville tonight, and they made us a wonderful meal to keep us fully nourished for our journey.  We always really appreciate being able to go to bed with full stomachs and a warm place to sleep. Finally, we would like to thank the people of Ohio who have been especially kind to us so far, to all those who have donated in the past days, a big huge "thank you" from all of us!!!

Today's (Jun-08-09) route was only scheduled to be 55 miles in length, however due to some confusion in our cues, many of us ended up spending quite a bit of time figuring out where to go next. In the end, everybody made it to Carnegie safely with minimal technical problems. After our ride we went to the Fishback's and were provided with an extravagant dinner. Along with dinner we also learned about Amy's Army, an effort to get people on the National Bone Marrow Registry. You can help find out if you can help somebody with leukemia by signing up for the National Bone Marrow Registry. They are currently running a promotion where testing kits are free if you order them before June 22nd, so order one today.

Today we passed through three states as we left the Pittsburgh metro area and headed for Ohio. In the process we spent about 8 miles in West Virginia, traveling across the most northern tip of the state. Today was also the first day of exiting the Appalachian Mountains, so we saw a few more downhills than uphills, however there were plenty of hills thrown in there to remind us that we weren't in the plains yet. Except for a bit of construction near the end, our ride was fairly uneventful. Everybody made it into Cadiz well before dinner, though many of us opted to visit the soft serve and fried food stand across from our stayover location. Too bad that the property is up for sale and may not be around for next year's team to enjoy.

We left D.C. early Friday morning amidst rain, wind, and cold. Our groups reunited at a Holiday Inn in Arlington, VA, and then spent the next 40 miles on the nicest bike path we'll see all summer. It would have been bike heaven if the weather had cooperated. Special I4K thanks to the Trails End Bike Shop in Purcellville, VA for offering a sheltered lunch stop, and lending us a hand with some crucial bike maintenance. In the afternoon we got our first taste of the Appalachians, before rolling tired, wet, and hungry into St. Marks Episcopal Church.

Our first real climb day! Saturday began under cloudy skies, but soon became warm and sunny. The hills were high, but our spirits were higher as we entered farm country. Bikes and bodies are slowly getting into the spin of things. We were lucky to have lunch lakeside in a state park. There was even a beach and ice cream to help cooling off after our first long climb. We would like to recognize The Mercersburg Inn of Mercersburg, PA for kindly letting our riders use the "facilities", as well as Charles Banks for helping some hungry riders out at the end of a long day. And a very big thanks to the United Methodist Church of Everett, PA for all their warmth and hospitality.

On Sunday, we awoke to a beautiful sunrise through morning fog, and another 80 miles spent wrestling with some difficult terrain. If today's route was drawn on a topographic map, it would have looked like a heartbeat. A steady set of steep climbs each followed by an even longer descent. Arriving in Mount Pleasant, the United Methodist Church welcomed us with a much needed (and appreciated!) meal. Afterwards some of the riders walked down to a concert in a local park honoring America's Veterans. It was a great way to relax after a long day's ride. Thanks to Domino's pizza for discounting prices for our riders for lunch, and to Tommy-lee Alfrada Schaeffer for her wonderful donation and humor.

Today we had a rest day in D.C. and woke up in 3 separate parts of the city. Some of us were lucky enough to meet Patrick the Preacher who had an impecable sense of direction. Thanks for your help! We all met up at Walter Reed Hospital and received an amazing tour of the facilities and Mr. and Mrs. Mulvaney shared their personal cancer stories with us. They were a pleasure to be around and our trip to the hospital ended on a sweet note with free ice cream. After the visit, the group split up and took advantage of the free admission to the city's museums. It was a pretty great way to take a break from cycling.

The war against cancer has many fronts, and our commitment to this fight in the past included providing funds for research and fostering hope through our Bike America ride and our Portraits Project.  In 2009, we have decided to also commit to another side of this battle. 

We will be designating a portion of the proceeds of our ride to the American Cancer Society's Campaign of Hope to be tripled in a match by two charitable foundations.  The Campaign of Hope is an initiative that supports the American Cancer Society’s Patient Navigation Services program.  Patient Navigation Services is a suite of free, hands-on services that provide cancer patients and caregivers with medical information and resources, helpful day-to-day assistance and emotional support for every step of their cancer journey. All of this is possible because of the generous donors and volunteers of the American Cancer Society.

We did not make this decision lightly, but in the end considered it an opportunity that we could not pass up:  A challenge grant from the Coleman Foundation will match half of our contribution.  This in turn will be matched dollar-for-dollar by The Duchossois Family Foundation.  A minimum contribution of $1,000 will thus be tripled, becoming $3,000.  This generous grant matching program only lasts through 2009.

Cancer is not in recession.  This economic climate has more cancer patients than ever turning to the ACS for help, and findings suggest that the sooner it connects patients with its services after a cancer diagnosis, the better the outcome.  We believe that our participation in the Campaign of Hope will have a significant impact in the lives of cancer patients and that it will not diminish the impact of our contribution to the ACS's research fund and Camp Kesem.

We'd like to start by saying when Brad says it is going to be a hard day, he is not kidding around. Yesterday was a hilly 75 mile ride from Delaware to Baltimore. The first half of the ride was gorgeous, but exhausting. We were happy to have a warm welcome at alumni rider Ben's ghetto. Dinner was some what of a fiasco, so thank you Jay's for the pizza! We also received $42 in donations.

Today was a 60 mile ride into Washington D.C. The ride was hilly, but definitely easier than the previous ride. A cool Maryland rider, Mike, rode with us for 10 miles, and donated $100 to our cause. We also received a donation of food from Convenience Catering, thanks Doug Henley! U of I alum Alyssa in Washington D.C. treated us to Lebanese food and tomorrow's Portrait participant Jan made us some amazing brownies : ). Tonight the group is split, and each place is having an event of their own. One group had to bike an extra 20 miles in the rain, but they were warmly welcomed with (meaty and veggie) burgers, corn, and potato salad. The rest of the boys are spending the evening in style at Brad's generous friend Brian's place.The girls are having a night on the town, and staying at alum rider, Andrea's, house. Their evening may entail almond butter, chile spiced mangos, dark chocolate raspberry trail mix, snuggling, but absolutely no gluten.

We are all looking forward to our team reunion at Walter Reed Hospital where we are lucky to receive a tour. More to come tomorrow...

A quick update on the donut eating competition: Caroline is beating Matt Cady 7-6 (he only has 60 days to catch up).

Today, the team completed a short 40 mile ride out to Newark, Delaware.  This ride was a relief after two hard days of riding, and the weather continued to be cooperative.  Everyone made the trip successfully in good time and had a well earned afternoon off. Tonight we are staying at the Salem United Methodist Church which gave us a warm welcome.  We are thankful for the hospitality the church has offered us with a place to stay and for great food and drink.  Our thanks also go out to Season's Pizza Inc for donating us a great meal to eat! Tomorrow the team is heading out to Baltimore, MD.

After a long and arduous ride, the team has arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  With a total distance of around 86 miles, this was the team's longest ride to date.  The ride today included New Jersey and the beautiful stretches of Pennsylvania countryside.  The day's ride was not without complications, but the good news is that lessons have been learned.  One incident in particular was made much easier by the help of a local bike shop.  Our thanks go out to the Human Zoom bike shop in the Philadelphia area for helping out one of our riders on short notice.  If you are ever in the area and need anything make sure to stop by this great shop.  Tomorrow's ride brings us to Delaware, and needless to say we're stoked.

After two exciting days in the big apple, the Illini 4000 hit the road.  We departed New York City from Central Park early this morning after a quick breakfast and send off from a handful of our supporters, which was greatly appreciated.  Our first ride led us out of NYC and into New Jersey, where we finished in the city of Hillsborough.  Our first ride was a great success, we experienced heavy traffic, three flat tires, a few wrong turns, but in the end everyone made it safely.  We are spending the night with the Thakkar family who treated us amazingly.  We would like to thank the Thakkar family for all the kindness and hospitality they showed us.  In the morning the Illini 4000 is off for a 90 mile ride to Philadelphia.

As we bike across the country, we would like to keep you, our loyal supporters, updated on our whereabouts - one way of doing this is updating our website frequently.  This can be time consuming when we're meeting with people, doing Portraits Project interviews, interacting with our hosts, and of course recovering from a long day on the bike!

Although we will be posting updates on our website over the summer, we'll be keeping you up-to-date with frequent posts on Twitter.  We invite you to follow us at www.twitter.com/illini4000.  Thanks!

With the summer only weeks away and winter well behind us, the Illini 4000 has headed outside to start training and getting fit for this summer!  Biking 4000 miles is challenging, but with a few weekends of training together, the team will get strong and get a feel for the open road (but not the mountains - the drawback of living in a cornfield!)

Thanks to everyone for your support so far - 2009 is looking to be our best year yet!

Beyond sending students across the country on bicycles, the Illini 4000's other large endeavor is the Portraits Project - a multi-year effort to document the cancer's effect on the lives of ordinary Americans.  In the past two years, we have interviewed over 30 people whose lives have been changed by cancer and plan on conducting more during the year.  The end result can take many forms, and we are excited to announce the shape that they will take in the coming year.

Our fledgling project was recently boosted by a grant generously provided by the Hillel Foundation and the Academy of Entrepreneurial Leadership at the University of Illinois.  This grant was awarded in recognition of our entry in a competition for philanthropic ventures sponsored by those organizations.  This grant will provide us with the resources needed to conduct more Portrait interviews, present them in an effective manner, and to further spread a positive message in the fight against cancer.

In the coming semester, a dedicated team of Illini 4000 members will be nurturing and helping the Portraits Project take off.  Their first major milestone will be the release of portraitsproject.org, the official website of the Project. - We plan on unveiling the website in May and hope to have a preview out in March.  Keep checking back on our website for news and developments!