there are still mud holes on state trust land
Posted by Zonie on November 02, 2025 at 20:11:07
With my new health insurance plan, I can no longer see my cardiologist, as he's not in network, and I need a PCP referral to see any cardiologist. Just finding a PCP was a challenge. There were two MDs in my area, but they were both participating in the "concierge" scam. One of them wanted $260 per month in addition to the $50 per visit plan co-payment. I considered that a shakedown, but both the insurance organization and the federal government say that's acceptable. I don't know why anyone other than a hypochondriac with money to burn would want such an arrangement.
I tried lowering my standards to having a nurse-practitioner as my PCP. I called the office of one on the list, but the receptionist rather awkwardly pointed out that she was an OB-GYN. In the spirit of the age, I contemplated identifying as a woman to get needed medical care but thought better of it. Eventually I found a physician's assistant to serve as PCP, and I lucked out there. She's every bit as attentive as any MD I've had, and she got me a referral to see an electrophysiologist on Christmas Eve. In the mean time I asked her if there was any risk of harming my heart further if I swam in water that was about 60°F to 65°F, and she said there was not, so I'm cleared for continuing to swim in November.
I went to the state trust land yesterday, wondering if I would just do stomping, but though it was November, the sun was still oppressive by 10 AM, so I found a mud hole and soaked myself. There were still mud holes on state trust land. Strangely, unlike Reach 11 several miles to the south, I didn't notice any mosquitoes there, though there were flies, ants, butterflies and other insects one would expect to find in the vicinity of water.
I heard some ATV enthusiasts in the distance and a few gun shots and met with a mountain bicyclist, but it was less crowded than usual for a Saturday. Eventually as I dried off a bit, I wandered over to Coyote Central. The water hole was quite large from all the rain in September and October and up to hip-deep, so I was able to drench myself again. Unfortunately there wasn't much mud there, though I would find some on the power line trail going southeast.
I tried heading back on a trail further south than the one I usually take, but there was only one mud hole there. I was mostly dry by the time I got to my car.