Also, if you can keep in mind, I really want to shoot off tripod, and master that aspect of macro photo taking. The ring flash should help increase shutter speed and reduce the affect of motion... the goal is to be able to hike with the camera and get good shots free handed.
Understood.... that does make a difference, I enjoy doing the same thing. For being your first attempts with a ringlight, these are d#mn good, seriously. The Tamron 60mm f/2.0 is a very good lens for being an aftermarket manufacturer.... Those shots have got some exquisite detail.
The only problem with a ringlight is that they make pictures look very flat.
I use Nikon... and for walkabout macro, I use a 105mm f/2.8 and an R1C1 wireless flash system, which gives a little more depth, but not much.
If you look at portrait photography, or have been in a studio, one of the lights used is called a "hair light".... it sits behind and either above or below the subject and points forward toward the camera, giving the hair a bit of a halo, and gives the subject "depth".
What I do when I'm out is use a monopod with a quick-disconnect plate.... that way when I'm not shooting, I can remove the camera, sling it over my shoulder, and the monopod becomes a walking stick. When I shoot, I have the camera on the monopod braced back against my chest so I can shoot one handed with the camera steadied, and then I have another flash that I pull out of my pocket and hold at arms length and aim it forward towards the rear of the subject, acting as a "hair light". It takes a little practice to get steadied and get the exposure correct, but once you get it, you will be amazed at how much difference in the "pop" you get...... you just need to be sure that the extra flash is slave capable, or have a small slave unit atached.