Harley-Davidson owners often remark how soothing a ride on one of the legendary bikes can be. Woody Fike’s Harley "45 flathead" has been more than soothing – it’s been a rebirth, according to his wife, Caroline.

Woody, 53, and Caroline, 61, are independents from Christmas, Fla., who haul mostly tropical plants our of Florida and backhaul candy Chicago.

The bike is unique, built from components off several models. It’s titled as a 1954 model, because that’s the year of the 45-cubic-inch engine. The frame and body parts came from an older bike.

"Woody came into possession of this bike during a crucial time in his life," Caroline says. "Being a combat veteran of the Vietnam War, he began suffering severely from delayed post traumatic stress disorder in about 1995. It was a very difficult time for him and me," she says.

"It was during his slow climb out of the depression caused by this condition that two very positive things occurred to help him immensely. First, a good friend, having rebuilt the Harley, discovered that he just couldn’t handle the ‘suicide clutch’ and tank mounted shifter.

"After nearly crashing into a barbed wire fence in his pasture several times he decided to sell the thing well below market value. Woody was able to buy the bike and begin some much needed pure enjoyment," Caroline says.

About the time Woody acquired the bike, the Fikes met longtime truckers Bob and Nancy Drummond of Cocoa, Fla. The Drummonds encouraged them to consider trucking as a new career in early 1998.

Woody had first been behind the wheel of a semi in the mid-60s, when he ran away from home and drove an ancient B Model Mack hauling the generator for a carnival – top speed about 40-45 mph. In the early 1970s, he briefly hauled for a junkyard owner.

Caroline went through trucking school, and they bought a 1970 Kenworth. Woody leased on to Drummond, and began hauling cut ferns and flowers in Florida in late 1998. They bought a new Great Dane Reefer and 1995 Peterbilt in 1999 and got their own authority.

Before going into trucking, they owned a custom sheet metal shop in Cocoa, Fla. where, among other things, Woody did custom metal work for several show trucks. The Fikes still co-own that business, which is managed by a relative.

Woody runs alone most of the time; Caroline handles the business at home and joins him when she can. When Woody gets home, Caroline says, "he gets a real kick out of riding his old "45" and has been known to stop traffic when admiring bikers surround him."