[conservative in nyc]

How new is the Interstate there? I was looking at my 2003 Rand McNally Atlas to get a sense of where this all is, and noticed that I-26 was shown as under construction from around Mars Hill, NC to the Tennessee border. The 2004 atlas shows I-26 as complete. And if you ask to go from Mars Hill to say, Johnson City on Mapquest, it tells you to take the old road, US-23 the whole way up.

Mapquest directions: http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?go=1&do=nw&un=m&2tabval=address&cl=EN&ct=NA&1tabval=address&1y=US&1a=&1c=mars+hill&1s=nc&1z=&2y=US&2a=&2c=johnson+city&2s=tn&2z=&idx=0&id=409f02bf-000dd-046f1-400c2526&aid=409f02bf-000de-046f1-400c2526

The vial tossing is bizarre, though.

This could be innocent Israelis getting lost or stupid terrorists trying to escape detection.

[who knows what evil?]

How new is the Interstate there?

The last nine mile section from Mars Hill to the TN border was opened about nine months ago. The Tennessee side has been done for years. US23 and I-26 are the SAME ROAD from Asheville north. The signage in that area is clear. There is NO REASON in the world to exit off I-26 in Mars Hill onto the "old 23", which is no longer signed, especially if you were headed to Boston. I'm not even sure why they were headed that way...backtrack a bit to 40, head east, and pick up 95. Why head north on 26 to 81? You can get to Boston that way, but it certainly isn't the direct route. In any event...even if they WERE lost, why aren't they co-operating with authorities? Just admit that you're lost, and be on your way. Something else is going on here. They are spending their second night in jail with NO BOND. Pretty stiff treatment for two guys who just "got lost" in the Tennessee mountains.