Dear Friends, Virginians, citizens of Fairfax:

One of the advantages of not being an Olympic athlete (or VP contender) is that you can travel freely this summer.
 
This past week our family vacationed in southwest Virginia, where we had a chance to visit our great state parks and see the sites west of the Blue Ridge.
 
We began in Roanoke, the historic junction for the Norfolk & Western Railroad.  My son Thomas is a railroad geek (he's three), and I took him to the old switchyard to see the freight trains arriving from the hills of West Virginia and departing to the coast.
 
The next day, we drove two hours down Route 81 to Hungry Mother State Park in mountainous Smyth County. 
 
Hungry Mother is named after the story of Molly Marley, whose family was kidnapped by Indians in the 18th century. Molly and her child escaped and began walking back along a local creek to find safety.  Eventually Molly collapsed.  The child proceeded on.  When the rescuers found him, all he could say was "hungry mother."  They found Molly, dead of starvation, at the base of a mountain which today is named Molly's Knob.   
 
That same creek, which feeds the New River, is now named Hungry Mother Creek.  In 1935, FDR's Civilian Conservation Corps build a dam to create Hungry Mother Lake and eventually the State Park.  The old CCC cabins and trails are still there.  In fact, we stayed in one.   
 
Like a lot of our state parks, Hungry Mother is a hidden gem.  There is hiking, canoeing, fishing and swimming.  There are nature classes for kids, the staff is friendly and a two-bedroom cabin is very affordable. 
 
While staying at Hungry Mother, we also made a day trip to the New River Trail State Park in Wythe County where you can bike the 50-mile trail or try whitewater kayaking.  Sharon and I settled for keeping three kids inside a wobbly canoe, which is not an Olympic sport (but probably should be). 
 
Virginia state parks have been voted "the best state parks in America."  If you visit them, you'll know why.  On the Senate Natural Resources Committee, we oversee these great assets, which is why I think of the trip as 5% business and 95% pleasure. 
 
We're back for the rest of the summer and preparing for school.
 
Tuesday, November 26th, my friend and our U.S. Senate candidate Mark Warner will be making the keynote address to the Democratic Convention. This is a really special moment, especially since I've known Mark since I was a law student at UVA organizing students for Clinton (in those days, it was Bill) and Mark was the state party chair.  That was 1992. 
 
Please join me next Tuesday, November 26th, at the Uptown Sushi restaurant at Fairfax Circle (next to Patriot Harley Davidson).  We will have speeches on a large-screen television.  Doors open at 7:00 pm and Warner's speech should begin at 9 pm. 
 
There is no fee although donations will be taken for "Friends of Mark Warner".  I hope you can make it and share in this great moment (by the way, I am making zero predictions on the VP selection and I have no inside knowledge).

If we can help you in any way, please contact my State Senate office at 703-349-3361 or www.fairfaxsenator.com.  Or follow the issues on our blog at www.oxroadsouth.com.

Let us know how we can represent you better.

Sincerely,