the cover sections 15 a and 15 b at the hinging location that padding is loosely supported as by straps 33 and 34 connected to one of the cover sections as seen in fig8 and 10 whereby the padding dangles freely to self adjust while compressed between end walls 31 and 32 as they are relatively displaced toward one another during pivoting of cover section 15 a to downward position as seen in fig4 and 8 the padding typically has wedge shape vertically so as to facilitate squeezing into self adjusted positions holding the cover sections in adjusted positions and also permitting some adjusting relative movement laterally during cover application to the receptacle bringing the recess 20 into registration with the waterfall chute connection strap 16 a flexes to cooperate with such cover section self adjusting the padding 30 variably compressing sufficiently to maintain strap 16 a smoothly extended at the cover section surfaces from the foregoing it will be seen from fig8 12 that each of the two pads 30 comprises a wedge shaped resiliently compressible body 70 and a thin flexible cover layer or layers 71 fitted closely over the body to firmly contain it as the pad is sidewardly compressed between walls 31 and 32 as the spa cover section 15 a.