A much-needed stop in Budapest and then on to Bulgaria for epic bike ride pair Mark and Sam Swain.

The father and son are from Canterbury are cycling to Japan. Here are the latest extracts from their blog.

Mosquito bites are not the only bumps a father and son are navigating after reaching Budapest by bike.

Mark and Sam Swain are taking some much-needed rest and relaxation in the Hungarian capital after climbing 20km to sea level on the approach.

They have notched up 1,860 miles of an 11,000 mile cycle to Japan and hope to reach the capital Tokyo by next summer.

In their latest blog Sam, 18, of Field Avenue, reveals that tolerating his dad hasn’t been all that bad.

He writes: “So far I’ve found the trip really great actually.

“All the worries I had, which mainly were to do with tolerating my dad and missing home, haven’t been as bad as I’d thought.

“Although I needed to get away from home and my friends I really do miss them all.

“I’m more excited about what’s to come next on this journey but I am excited about seeing everyone again. Canterbury will always be home and so will the people in it.

“All else is fantastic. Budapest is a really great city but the only bad thing so far is mosquito bites.

“I have about 30 on my back alone; not nice!”

The pair are eager to study the effect of the trip on their relationshop and are raising money for the Rising Sun Domestric Violence Project in Canterbury.

Mark, 50, writes: “We chose not to head back up to complete the last hundred miles of riverside route, opting instead to go cross country to Budapest over a shorter but more hilly route which was very rural.

“I was flabbergasted by the fact that the final approach to Budapest from the west involved about 20km of climbing - to a city on a river at sea level!

“The downhill at the end into Budapest was positively dangerous especially as Hungarian road conditions are the worst I’ve seen in Europe.

“Sam is in fine form despite being bitten to death by mosquitos in Petronell Carnuntum.

“This was the worst concentration I have seen in a long time with people running from building to tent with towels wrapped around their heads and taking refuge in a fully zipped tent for the night.

“They love Sam’s blood it would seem. I’m not sure what’s wrong with mine.

After a few days rest in Budapest Mark and Sam on now on their way to Bulgaria.

For the full story and pictures so far see Mark and Sam’s blog site at www.bugbitten.com/father_son_cycle