I've been doing the same thing as well as the Rick's Cafe webcam & been amazed of the lack of people for the last 2 big holidays & yes the beach is empty! We'll see if the they come for the highest part of the season. I always made my way there the last week of January through early March. Haven't been back since 2020 after 27 years of visits. So many of my friends there have pasted on.