To Wheeling

Warning: There are mummies in this post.  It's just one photo, but if you'd rather not see mummies, you might want to skip it.

This week I attended the Create West Virginia conference in Wheeling.  The conference was a blast, and very helpful once I figured out what panels it would benefit me to attend.  I loved Dan Roam's keynote speech, listening to Option 22 perform, and Dr. Nicole Cutts' diversity track.  But that's pretty much all I'm going to say about the conference itself.  Mostly, this is about getting there and being in Wheeling.

I drove with Jamie, who was also attending the conference.  The best part about driving with Jamie is that she sings along to every song, regardless of whether she knows the words or even if she's heard it before.  It's fantastic.  Here are some things we saw on the road:

(I found this really creepy.)

We drove through Philippi to see the covered bridge, which is the oldest and longest in the state.  And still in use!

This is the old train depot and current museum.  It's got plenty of neat things, but we ventured in to see the MUMMIES.

You didn't believe me, did you?  You didn't think I was actually going to show you mummies.  These two ladies passed away in a mental asylum and were then acquired by a man who had invented an alternative method of embalming.  Clearly, they've held up pretty well.  They even spent four days under water during a flood.  So, there you go.  Mummies.  In West Virginia.

We traversed the covered bridge, leaving Philippi and its mummies behind.

After arriving in Wheeling and enjoying a tasty welcome dinner, we ventured into the downtown area.

We were rather taken with the Victoria Theatre.

But slightly baffled by the large wooden hot dogs in the windows next door.

The Wheeling Suspension Bridge connects Wheeling proper with Wheeling Island.  It's pretty incredible all lit up.

I really liked this bridge.  Here is a video of driving over the bridge.  Because.