Father and son team cycle 10,000 miles from Dingle to Tokyo!

Mark and Sam make it to Japan!

After leaving Dingle on July 26th 2008, father and son team Mark and Sam Swain completed the adventure of a lifetime this week as they reached Tokyo last Thursday having cycled 15,685 km (aprox 10,000 miles) across Europe and Asia from Dingle to Tokyo. Mark (50) and his son Sam (18) set out last summer from Commenoule with the intention of cycling from Dingle to Tokyo last July; from cycling through Kerry, Cork and Waterford on to the Ferry in Rosslare, traversing the UK, gaining access to France and Mainland Europe via the Channel Tunnel. Then it was on through France, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and China before reaching their destination in Japan. Mark and Sam are originally from Canterbury in England however have been dividing their time between the UK and Dingle for the past 20 years, where they have a home. According to Mark, this trip has been in the pipeline for almost eight years as when his son Sam was ten years old he asked how long would it take to cycle to Japan. As 2008 saw San turn 18 and Mark reach the milestone age of 50, they decided it was the perfect time to undertake this challenge. The pair are expected to visit Dingle later this summer where they will, no doubt, receive a heroes welcome. Mark has documented the trip on a travel blog and intends to write a book about the experience. Pictured above left and right, Sam and Mark in Dingle, July 2008 and afterwards, in Japan May 2009. Read up on Mark and Sam's adventures at www.bugbitten.com/father_son_cycle.