The Olympic flame came to life in the pre-morning darkness Friday on Vancouver's iconic Lion's Gate Bridge.

Over the next several hours – on the final leg of its epic journey -- the flame had brushes with superstars and protesters. It was jogged along English Bay and paddled along False Creek.

Finally, just before 2 p.m., it came to rest at the Four Host First Nations Pavilion, where it was to stay until Friday night's Opening Ceremony at BC Place.

Torchbearer Walter Gretzky, father of hockey great Wayne Gretzky, summed up the sentiments of many who had the honour of running with the torch.

"I'm 71 years of age, and to look around and see all you wonderful people, it's incredible, I just about started to cry," he said.

It was a bit of mob scene earlier in the morning as actor-turned-politician Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger carried the torch in Stanley Park.

Some spectators shouted out to Schwarzenegger in poor attempts at Austrian accents, while others held signs that read "The Torchinator" and "Run, go, get to da choppa!" -- a quote from the movie "Predator."

It was an emotional day for torchbearer Rolly Fox, father of Canadian hero Terry Fox, who almost 30 years ago stirred Canadians with his cross-country run to raise money for cancer research.

"I will definitely be running," Fox said as he waited for the torch to arrive. "I know he would be looking down right now and saying, ‘Way to go, Dad.'"

Other notables who ran with the torch Friday, included former B.C. Lion Luis Passaglia and legendary big band leader Dal Richards.

"It's a thrill I've never had before," Richards said moments after his run with the torch. "It's a highlight of my long and varied and checkered career."

The torch run wasn't without protest.

A few dozen protesters blocked the torch route at Victory Square in the Downtown Eastside, where numerous veterans had awaited the flame's arrival.

The relay course was re-routed.

"I think that the torch needs to be run right off the road," said one of the protesters, Lauren Gill.

"We're basically standing up and saying, 'No, we're not going to accept this, we're not going to accept that torch coming through here and the Games being held in our city.'"

Veteran Jim Stanton said protesters should have held their demonstration away from the war memorial.

"This is an important day for Canada, this is an important day to recognize the contributions of our veterans and it's unfortunate that it has to be spoiled by some brats," he said.

The relay covered 45,000 kilometres, starting in Victoria last October, and going as far east as Cape Spear, NL., and as far north as the outpost of Alert, Nunavut.

The identity of the individual who will carry the torch into BC Place Friday night for the Opening Ceremony remains a tightly guarded secret.

With files from CTV British Columbia's Leah Hendry and The Canadian Press