this is something i'm trying to work on, where people seem to have something strong, but nothing makes sense. I find that i put blinders on after the flop, and i only pay attention to the most likely hands afterward, i ignore the remotely possible ones.

I think crying call the river. He has to have gotten the flush a significant enough amount of the time that a raise is suicide, trust your read that this is showing great strength and not a bluff.