Hang in there, T23. As I write, the solar flux is on the rise, as are the sunspot numbers. The band *should* be coming around again due to those increases. We'll see.
Additionally, we may get some interesting conditions in the near future due to the effects of the current solar cycle combined with the upcoming spring/summer Sporadic E season. On Channel 38 a couple days ago, I heard stations in Hawaii and New Jersey simultaneously. Interesting and unusual compared to the typical propagation I've experienced in the last few months.
Keep spreading the word on 26.285 MHz!