One thing I've spotted when around the area is that nearly everyone hiring from Skipton and Silsden does what you are planning i.e. goes west to about Foulridge and then back and then east if time permits. This means that you are likely to find queues of hire boats at the lock flights. I have been at Greenberfield heading east with queues of boats waiting to go up west. It might therefore be better to head east first and then be a day or so behind when going west.
It would be nice if you could get to the rest of the canal but I guess in a week you won't make it. It is bizarre cruising along the L&L, which is usually empty up to Foulridge and beyond Bingley and very busy in between. It is a lovely section but then so are many other chunks of the L&L, even the bit between Burnley and Blackburn!
