Taxi instructions

Went to RDG the other day because it had been too long since I went to
a towered field and I needed the radio practice. I was directed to
fly right base to 36 and landed uneventfully. Upon landing, the tower
asked my intentions. I told them that I would like to taxi back for
take-off and departure to the south. They directed me to turn left on
Golf to 36.

Fortunately, I had printed out a taxiway diagram because I have been
confused (lost) at airports in the past. A quick look showed me that
Golf doesn't go to 36. I would have to go from Golf to Delta to Alpha
to 36, also crossing 31 along the way. With my limited experience at
these kinds of airports, I elected to contact the tower and ask if his
intention was for me to use Golf, Delta and Alpha to get to 36. This
was of particular importance to me because of the required crossing of
31. I know that a clearance to taxi to a runway also clears you to
cross any runways on the route to the assigned runway but he was not
clear from the outset what the prescribed route was. Should he have
been more clear or should I have assumed that he wanted me to take all
three taxiways because that's what you have to do to get there? I
wouldn't have bothered him except for my paranoid vision of a
potential runway incursion at 31. Thanks.

Rich Russell