Outer Banks Successfully Withstands Bonnie

"We saw it was part of life. We don't like it. You don't like water in your house or under your bed or in your bed, but these things happen. If you're going to live on the coast, you're going to live with these experiences," Basnight said.

On Ocracoke Island, you can barely tell beach from road. Only Department of Transportation Crews were on the ferries.

In Manteo, the docks are normally three to four feet lower than they were Thursday. The boat "Hot Pursuit" had risen far from where she floated before Hurricane Bonnie blew through.

Before dawn, Manteo's waterfront marina was on the rise. Bonnie pushed the water level up several feet, flooding streets and parking lots. Later in the morning, as frustrated vacationers made the trek back in, there was even more frustration.

Highway 64 was one of the many major blocked arteries. Some people just had to wait it out.

"We're just trying to get back to get some of our vacation in," said Sherrie Steele. "We have nine kids and four adults. [The shelter] wasn't bad. They opened up the gymnasium, and the kids played volleyball and kickball the whole time."

Later, a wet Highway 12 became a slow passageway. People began taking down what they put up in honor of Bonnie. From Buxton, Avon, Rodanthe and all the way up to Nags Head, you can get through. However, moving is slow going. ,John Clark