I remember in 1973 I paid off a ship in Falmouth dry dock, but although we were issued a rail warrant, they weren't of much use as there was a rail strike on. I didn't have a car licence then, so my only recourse to get home was to phone my Old Man and beg a lift !!
He was in Stafford, and when I told him where I was, he pondered that for a bit then said:
"Well, I've been as far as Bristol that way, which is almost there."
I decided to say nothing.
He drove down and back up with me and couple of others off the ship who were able to get transport from Stafford. It was getting on for a six hundred mile drive in a Transit Van. I had to keep him in beer for all of my leave.