When you noted previously that you planned to go, I tried to respond but found it too hard for me to put into words what I wanted to say. Your summary is quite better than anything I could come up with in 10 times the amount of words.
I love the North Shore. One of the few true happy places where I immediately felt at ease. I haven’t been in way too many years and fear for how it has changed. The empty beach gives me hope that it is close to what I fell in love with all those years ago.