I had experience with roundabouts in Scotland. I thought they were well designed and marked clearly, (although I had to make a couple of laps sometimes to make the proper exit).

Sachtler is one of the best, but maybe not affordable or practical for someone with a DLSR that just wants to use the video function on occasions. Manfrotto has some cheaper options, but a good solid quick-release system is a must with whatever fluid head option one chooses, and from here it can almost a GAS status.

Thanks for all the suggestions. There are so many, I wish I could spend a month. I am leaning towards renting a car, especially for outside London, but it will take getting used to driving on the 'right side.'

Thanks John, plan to PM you on specifics later. Yes, it is 'expansive' out here in Kansas. I've been to Scotland, now looking forward to visiting England.

I truly appreciate the tips and 'warnings,' and will take special care.

I also wanted to mention that wife's ancestors are the ones who discovered 'Cox Caverns,' now called 'Gough' I believe. I've viewed YouTube videos on this area, which looks great too. My family, we originally thought, centered around Chard Parish. Now, research may indicate Lincolnshire, or Lancanshire? Counties. Name is Staple(s). More research to do, suggestions are always welcome.

My wife and I want to trace our ancestral roots, (Somerset County) and James Herriot country. Questions for our UK friends: What is weather like in October (off-season), rail pass a good buy, and, any other advice in touring the UK? Plan to spend about two weeks, flying into London I assume. Thanks for any tips.

I use my D7000 for stills and video. Having shot video professionally, I regard the DLSR's ability to deliver great video with an 'affordable' investment a major breakthrough.

You can rig a DLSR with nifty tools, (EVF, monitor, etc.), combine with solid lighting and sound techniques and you could produce quality products. Note that I said "solid-techniques" because experience isn't acquired overnight, it is a process of learning the fundamentals, experimenting, and learning from your mistakes.

I would suspect you can get them in any 'big-box' chain, like Home Depot or Lowes. I'm thinking I paid around $15 for mine.

I've heard the main ingredient of WD-40 is fish oil. It's good for about everything, a staple of the garage. I buy mine in a gallon can, always seem to have trouble with the nozzles on the spray cans clogging up.

Makes you wonder how they sealed the chambers, or whatever to hold the air? Pretty amazing story. I shared with history buffs I know and they were impressed.

Did the curator of the NFM say "…to the Cascades and the headwaters of the Potamac rivers…?" This was at the very end of the presentation. Pretty amazing air rifle though.

One dollar…you gotta start somewhere.

I've got actually a couple of Gitzo series 5 tripods that I've used in video production, model 505 I think. They are three sections. I will measure how far they extend out. I don't have the center post however, but you can buy that, or the one that has a crank/gear. If you are interested I will take pics/measurements. I have two Gitzo aluminums that I use--another series 5 and a series 3. These are solid, heavy-duty tripods.

Many, many years ago I actually got to fly with the Blue Angles. Their practice used to be whenever they came to a town, a day or so before the show, they would enter local media members names into a hat and draw a 'primary,' and an 'alternate.'

I was picked as an alternate and showed up at the prescribed time…the primary didn't so they said "Lets go!" Wow, I still remember it to this day-some 35-40years later. You could tell the pilot loved to fly. I'm getting goosebumps just writing again about it. Thanks for indulging my memories. BTW, I shot 16mm film at that time for the local TV station.

They fly the crews who deliver the planes to the boneyard back in a B-52.