Hi Dave,
Good to see you exploiting the binos! I'm wanting to get to do a bit more binocular observing done too, and sketch with them too, if only the clouds would co-operate.
Thinking compact, have a look at this series of compact dobs from 4.5" to 8". The 4.5" weighs less than 1.8kg.
http://www.biophysik.uni-freiburg.de.../8_zoll_e.html
One of those modest little 114's at f/4.5 would be a nice candidate.
Mmmm, I've been looking for one of those too...