My rule is that you can bring one stupid heavy thing. I don't say one has to. But we all have things we like to do, and wouldn't mind bringing a decent piece of kit along to allow. Having one heavy thing is OK, letting everything be overweight even a little will really add up.

I wouldn't bring the tripod, and if I needed one, I would consider a crappy light one. I have one at the moment that someone gave me when they lost a good one I used to own. It is not a good tripod, but it works for certain things, and is crazy light. I have gone on trips where I didn't take a camera at all. I like photography, but with digital, there are too many photos. I have years that I "documented" on a roll of film. Everyone's lives are becoming like those boring home movies, or slide shows one prays one never has to sit through.

Paul makes a thing for steering tubes that holds a go pro.