3 MAY 2026 · What does it look like to trade a four-acre homestead and a 35-year postal career for life on the road in a vintage 1999 diesel pusher named Elsa?
In this episode, Kimberly sits down with full-time RVers Kelly Freeman and Dane Mulligan — a musician-jewelry-maker duo who spent nearly five years traveling coast to coast, playing Harley dealerships, staying at Harvest Hosts, surviving ice storms, and discovering that the best adventures are the ones you never planned. From ghost encounters in Civil War country to a pitch-black night at the Grand Canyon, this conversation is warm, funny, and deeply real. Dane also shares what's next for his band Opium Western, currently recording at The Mansion in Branson, and Kelly reveals her dream of opening a jewelry shop in Eureka Springs.
Song credits:
Make Me Love U
Lyrics and music: Dane
Music Dane and Steve Froese
Recorded at Mansion Studios
Branson, MO
Feb 2026
Engineered, mixed and co-produced by Christopher Omartian
Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction — Meet Kelly Freeman and Dane Mulligan, full-time RVers and creative couple now based in the Ozarks.
0:27 – Life on the Road — Elsa the '99 Safari Zanzibar, full-time RVing since 2021, and why the Ozarks became home base.
4:57 – How It All Started — COVID as a fork in the road, Kelly's retirement from the Postal Service, and how Craigslist led them to Elsa.
8:22 – Dane's Music Career — Ten years playing the region, van life before the RV, and how music drove the whole journey.
22:02 – The Sound of Dane Mulligan — Kelly describes Dane's music, the tone-chasing obsession, and why his classic rock makes you wanna dance.
25:06 – Gigging on the Road — Boondocking behind clubs, Harley dealerships as a touring circuit, and the providence of the road.
43:45 – Favorite Places & Adventures — The Grand Canyon at sunset, Tombstone at midnight, ghost encounters in Cleveland TN, and getting trapped in the Crescent Hotel elevator.
58:58 – Where to Find Dane & Kelly — Opium Western's upcoming record, danemulligan.com, Soul Creations jewelry, and the dream Eureka Springs shop.
Links & Resources mentioned:
- Dane Mulligan music & Opium Western: http://danemulligan.com
- Kelly's jewelry: Soul Creations by K. Dawn — find her at Dane's shows
- Recording at The Mansion, Branson, MO (formerly the Wayne Newton Theater)
- Harvest Hosts: http://harvesthosts.com
- BB King Museum, Indianola, MS — a top Harvest Host stop
- Crazy Craig's Tree House, Branson, MO
- Crescent Hotel, Eureka Springs, AR — ghost tours on the 4th floor
- Atkins Automotive, Cleveland, TN — shoutout to Dwayne!
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