Della Crewe

Della Crewe (1884–1926) was an American long-distance motorcyclist known for her endurance cross-country trip from Waco, Texas to New York City in 1914.

Early life Della Crewe was born in Racine, Wisconsin and moved to Waco, Texas around 1910. There she worked as a manicurist. She was known for being an experienced traveler, and a family member suggested she explore the country by motorcycle. Her motorcycle for the trip was a Harley-Davidson two-speed twin-engine with an attached sidecar. She called it The Gray Fellow. She was given a Boston Bull Terrier as a gift and she named the dog Trouble, being quoted as saying "Trouble is the only trouble I will have with me on this trip." She next visited Jamaica and Puerto Rico, before returning to Florida where she then rode to New York City a second time. She kept up a correspondence with the Waco Daily Times-Herald which published her long letters recounting her trips.

In 1917 she drove an automobile from New York City to Los Angeles She raised money for this trip by painting and selling landscape paintings while on the road.