Video: Eastside Harley Riders Bring Open Road to Nursing Home Residents - and Wind to their Hair

The freedom of the open road came to a special group on Saturday.

About a dozen members of the Eastside Harley Owners Group pulled up at Providence Marianwood, an Issaquah nursing home on the Plateau and just next to Sammamish, to give residents ranging in age from their 60s to 90s a chance to feel invigorated.

The bikers gave residents rides on the back of their Harley Davidson motorcycles. In total, about 70 residents, nursing home staff, Harley riders and family members attended.

The temperature during the Saturday event started off chilly but the sun broke out by the time 15 residents had sat on the back of the motorcycles.

Throughout the event, that distinctive deep thunder from the Harley engine filled the air. As the residents went for short rides in the Marianwood parking lot, the wind blew in their hair.

Bystanders cheered and spotted smiles on the faces of their fellow nursing home friends. Several residents waved to the audience as they went on their rides.

After leaving one of the motorcycles, one man - a resident - said that he once rode horses when he was younger when asked to describe the feeling of being on a classic American icon.

Another resident, a woman, explained that she was a bit scared while riding in the parking lot. Heavy duty straps were used to ensure the safety of all riders. She also wore a helmet.

Her ride ended safely on Saturday - as did all of the spins in the parking lot. But she was extra lucky. Her driver was Alan Steiner, the director of the Eastside Harley Owners Group.

He gave her a hug. She gave him a nice kiss - and thanked him for the ride. As she returned to her chair, nursing home staff and other residents continued to applaud for other riders.

Editor's note: The Eastside Harley Owners Group has photographs of the day's event on its Picasa page.