or pubs are plentiful.... Its not the sahara!
When I was doing stretches of it with the kids, we used to top up water bottles at pubs along the way.
Skipton is only hell in the wet or on the wrong bike
If it's wet, Silsden to Skipton is hard work, you need an MTB, the very well worn channels along with the gazillion tree roots + mud, will see you falling. If I use my hybrid, shod with 35mm's, it's useless, I just slither around, give up, and take to road. There is a cycle route that leaves the canal at bridge 194, you leave before Silsden and re-join (if you like) after, it cuts out a horrible section and is a lovely ride.