Has there ever been a crowd in more perfect symmetry as when the parade bus with Mo Farah steamed into view of the thousands in Trafalgar Square?
As the double gold medal-winner lifted his arms, fingertips on his head, in one of the most recognisable symbols of this Olympic Games, the crowd lifted their arms as every man, woman and child, young and old, responded by doing the 'Mo-Bot'.
They came from across the country, many saying they had taken time off work or extended their summer breaks to come into London to see Our Greatest Team parade through the streets, passing Mansion House and St Pauls, down Fleet Street, past the Royal Courts of Justice and Somerset House, along the Strand to greet the hoards watching the parade on big screens in Trafalgar Square.
The rest of the Mall was reserved for the VIPs, not celebrities, but the Gamesmakers and families who spurred on the Olympians and Paralympians.
Some Olympians who have become household names got the biggest roars from the crowd - but they were also equalled by the cheers for Paralympians like David Weir.
Many people in the crowd said they had come out specifically to see the Paralympians, who had inspired them.
Lining up along the Strand with her family, all bedecked in Union Jack paraphernalia, Mandy Gribben, from Milton Keynes told The Huffington Post UK she could not wait to see her hometown hero Greg Rutherford, the gold medal winning long jumper.
"I was lucky enough to get tickets for the football, but Team GB were out by the time I went to Wembley.
"So I really wanted to be here, watching them on television has brought me to tears."
Her grandmother Joanne Baddock said she wanted to come down to show her support for Paralympic cyclist Jody Cundy, amongst others. "There are too many to name, I can't wait to see Jonnie Peacock, Sarah Storey, and of course, Jessica Ennis."
Gribben added: "I was so desperate to go to the park, and I went with my football tickets, but they would not let me in, and they said I was about the 2,000th person who had tried it that day. It shows you how much people wanted to be part of it."
Union Jack memorabilia and costumes abounded, people wore plastic Union Jack top hats and t-shirts and leggings, painted their faces, waved foam hands and blew plastic horns.
Office-workers pressed their noses to the glass, or leaned precariously out of windows to catch a glimpse of their heroes.
Jack Scarleton, who watched the parade on The Strand with wife Hannah, said his entire office had decamped onto the streets. "There won't be any money being made in the city today."
Homemade signs were dotted around the crowd, declaring "Thank You Great Britons" and "We Are So Proud Of Team GB".
Some athletes, leaning out from the buses held their own signs, saying, simply: "Thank You!"
Trafalgar Square was full to the brim with the ubiquitous burgundy and red uniforms, as Gamesmakers piled onto the steps from the National Gallery, to watch the big screens. Many passersby stopped to shake their hands.
The Allan family, from Lancing, Sussex, brought their two daughters Imogen and Elsa to Trafalgar Square, and told The Huffington Post UK they had been thrilled to see the Olympic heroes.
Rowan Allen said: "It's absolutely once in a lifetime experience.
"We took our daughters to see the torch which was wonderful."
Wife Vicky Allen said: "We can't wait to see athletes like Tom Daley and Jessica Ennis, but we're just here to be part of all those smiling faces.
"There's been such great positivity on the streets of London and across the UK because of these Games. I really do hope it will last, at least until the winter comes."
Many people told The Huffington Post UK that they saw the parade as their final opportunity to be a part of the Games, having failed to get tickets.
Maureen Burr, with friend June Grose, had set up camp close to Charing Cross, said they had travelled from Hertfordshire after trying, and failing to get tickets to see the Olympic and Paralympic events.
Burr said: "We were so looking forward to seeing everybody, it's been such a fantastic summer. It's been very tearful at times and it's made me very proud to be British."
Grose said: "We've met a lot of the Gamesmakers and helpers, coming into London, and it's great to say thank yo to them too."
Liz Fulton, in Trafalgar Square with 4-year-old daughter Katie, said she hoped her daughter would reap the benefits of an Olympic legacy.
"I hope the legacy is about ensuring the importance of sport in schools. She loves gymnastics and ballet and swimming. Hopefully the Olympics will inspire more children to do sport."
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Posted: 10/09/2012 17:28 Updated: 10/09/2012 17:30