The 83-year-old Bradenton cyclist dies after achieving his life’s goal

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. – At age 83, Bob Blanchard finally achieved his seemingly impossible goal.

Earlier this month, the Bradenton man reached an unfathomable milestone: 200,000 miles ridden on his bicycle.

He had been cross-country skiing most of his adult life, but needed one more ride to reach his goal.

He left Bradenton in May and reached Houghton Lake, Michigan, a few weeks later. The approximately 1,500 miles was just enough to reach the 200,000 mile mark.

However, the celebration and joy were short-lived. His journey ended in tragedy.

“I think it’s the tragedy — the suddenness of it — that makes it very difficult for me to — apologize,” said Bob’s girlfriend, Judi Windle of Parrish.

Last Thursday morning around 8:30 a.m., a driver struck Blanchard to death as he rode his bicycle through Bay City, a small town north of Saginaw. According to family members, Blanchard left his son’s home on the way to his daughter’s home.

“I felt anger. I felt a shock. I felt disbelief,” said his son, Tommy Blanchard.

Questions remain about how the collision happened with a cyclist who put safety first, his children said.

“You don’t ride 200,000 miles on a pedal bike and all those miles are unsafe,” said Scott Blanchard, another of Bob’s children.

Meanwhile, Windle is struggling in Manatee County.

“I’m expecting those morning texts,” she said through tears. “Those afternoon texts.”

She lost her beloved husband of 53 years in 2016 and never wanted to love again.

She then met Blanchard in 2020. The two bonded during a picnic along the Braden River during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We just clicked,” Windle said.

Now her heart is broken again.

If there’s any consolation, she knows her late boyfriend died doing something he loved.

“As hard as it is to lose Bob, I said, ‘God bless him.’ He did what he loved to do. Not many people can die saying, “I did what I love most, and I did it until my last breath.” And yes, that is reassuring,” she said.

According to reporting by WJRT-TV, the driver who struck Blanchard is a former officer who claims he was alertly looking down in his car before the collision.

Authorities in Michigan are investigating.