Peter's Predicament was rather similiar to that of many a professional folk singer, and so to some extent I sympathise.
I remember doing a gig at Portland Bill, carefully calculating my cost of petrol and using my last money to fill the tank, only to run out of petrol in Weymouth, so I had no choice but to walk the last 4 miles to the gig.
on other occasions I would use public transport and then hitch back from gigs.
Sean Cannon used to hitch hike all the time.